Welcome to The Digital Environment! The Internet has changed our world dramatically, and not always for the better. Here you can learn about environmental issues related to computers and the Internet and what you can do to minimize your environmental impact.
Trey
Cyber Defender &
Message Center Supervisor
As an environmental activist, Trey believes that technology has the potential to improve our world, but only if it is used and created responsibly. He encourages people to become aware of their actions and to make simple changes in their lives that will have a big impact on the environment.
A recent graduate of the Academy (class of '07), Trey runs the Message Center in Cyberspace. He loves communicating via email because it is quick, easy, and reduces paper waste.
Favorite Quote:
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
- John Muir
Vegetable Curry
Interests:Ultimate frisbee, Gardening, Recycling trash into treasure
April 20 2008
Technotrash Aftermath
Our technotrash fundraiser last Saturday was a resounding success! We collected over 100 pounds of technotrash including old computers, broken printers and monitors, empty ink and toner cartridges, and even CDs and DVDs.
Some particularly memorable pieces include Dr. Keen's giant old CRT monitor, which blew out its picture tube 5 years ago and she's been using it as a coffee table, and Commander Omni's old dot matrix printer that's been doubling as a planter! To give them credit, even if they didn't dispose of the technotrash properly, at least they were reusing it.
We also managed to make enough money for our Earth Day party. Dana is especially pleased that she can get reusable bamboo picnicware for the Academy so we won't ever need to use paper plates or plastic forks again. Nothing makes me cringe more than a trash can full of party waste, and it would also be totally missing the whole point of having a green party!
I'm also happy that the community really got into this event. So many people showed up with their technotrash that we ended up having an impromptu party right there on the patio! Dana and I are already planning the next technotrash fundraiser in the Fall, but with the addition of a BBQ and volleyball tournament afterwards.
posted by Trey
topic: Miscellaneous
April 15 2008
Environmental Issues: Toxic Materials and Heavy Metals
Ever wonder exactly why you shouldn't just throw that old computer in with the regular trash? What harm could it possibly do, you might ask.
Most electronics contain heavy metals and toxic materials like cadmium, lead, and mercury. We're only just now beginning to realize the effects of introducing these materials to our environment and health.
When you throw away a computer with the regular trash, it usually ends up in a landfill. Over time, the trash breaks down and these toxic materials can leak into the ground. Here they can contaminate the water we drink, the plants we eat and the animals that live in the water and soil.
In small amounts many of these metals help support life, but in larger amounts they become toxic and can have all kinds of bad effects including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and even cancer. If you keep eating and drinking contaminated food and water, these toxins can build up in your body. If you eat animals that have been contaminated, you're getting a double dose of toxins. What's even worse, your body can't properly process some of these metals and so they might take years and years to get out of your system.
Since one computer monitor can contain up to four pounds of lead, just think how much damage all the technotrash getting thrown away could be causing! Let's all do our part to keep our planet a little healthier by properly disposing of these toxic materials. Hopefully, in the near future we won't even have to worry about it because they will no longer be using toxic materials to make electronics.