Environmental Issues

Definition and Context of Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues in the context of computer science refer to the impact that the use, production, and disposal of computer systems and related technology have on the environment.
Considerations include energy consumption, e-waste, the use of non-renewable materials, and the effect of digital technology on paper waste.

Energy Consumption and Computing

Computers and related technology require electricity to function, contributing to energy consumption. Energy-efficient hardware and software can reduce this impact.
Servers and data centres, which run 24/7, consume significant amounts of energy. Techniques like server virtualisation and cloud computing can reduce energy usage.
Standby mode on devices also contributes to energy waste. This can be mitigated by switching devices off completely when not in use.

E-Waste and Disposal of Technology

When computer systems become obsolete or broken, they result in e-waste. This waste often contains harmful materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium which can pose serious ecological and health hazards if not disposed of properly.
Recycling and reuse of components can reduce e-waste. Some companies have ‘take back’ programs encouraging users to return their old devices.
Secure data deletion is also important when disposing of technology, to prevent sensitive data falling into the wrong hands.

Use of Non-Renewable Materials in Production

The production of computer hardware requires non-renewable materials like gold and rare earth metals. Mining these can have serious environmental impacts.
Methods to alleviate this include the recycling of materials and researching alternative, renewable sources for these materials.

Digital Technology and Paper Waste

The increased use of computers and digital technology can reduce paper waste if used wisely. Email, digital documents, and online news all eliminate the need for physical paper.
However, the energy used to power these services and devices, and the e-waste they create, must also be considered.

Role of Legislation in Environmental Protection

Laws such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) are in place to encourage the recycling and safe disposal of electronic waste.
Compliance with such laws by manufacturers, businesses, and consumers is crucial to minimise the environmental impact of computing.

Overall, whilst digital technology can contribute to environmental degradation, through energy usage and e-waste, it also has the potential to attenuate these issues. Strategies such as efficient design, recycling and virtuous use are keys to minimising the ecological footprint of the digital world.