Have you ever heard of e-waste (electronic waste, 电子垃圾)? How do you deal with your MP4 players, mobile phones or your computers when they're broken or you want a new one?
Most people just throw them away. With the1of industry. e-waste pollution has become a serious problem. According to the United Nations, in 2014, people around the world produced 41. 8 million tons of e-waste and only2less than 20% of it. The US was3waster, producing 7.1 million tons. China came second, 46 million tons.
5is important to pay attention to e-waste. It can be6valuable or harmful, depending on how we deal with it. E-waste is a valuable urban mine (城市矿藏). The value of the metals, like gold and silver is7. And the metals can be reused. But if people throw them away, the toxic chemicals (有毒化学物质) can8the earth or air, and they will affect the environment and people's health.
Now, Apple recycles people's used products in China when they are buying new9. The company will test and repair the used10and sell them at lower prices.11e-waste, we can also take computers and phones to see12companies offer recycling programmes.
