Take a minute to think about the number of electronics you own. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches, just name a few of what most Americans individually own these days. Think about the last time you were on a plane ride or went on a road trip. Did you use your electronics to entertain you? To take pictures of the scenery around you? To share your adventures with the world?
Electronics are part of our culture now. We use them to communicate and to entertain. But do we ever think about where they go once they no longer become useful—once we upgrade our devices or if they break? Many of us worry about getting rid of these devices because of what they contain inside. Our electronics encase microchips and heavy metals, metals that we probably don’t want to come into direct contact with too often. They affect our health, the health of the environment around us and can leach out toxic chemicals if not disposed of or recycled correctly.
Even if we do the best job we can at recycling our devices, which is actually required by Colorado law, we rarely consider the people who helped to produce them or the parts of our planet from which those heavy metals were extracted.
Sue Williams sheds some light on these topics by revealing the hidden life of electronics in this month’s film, “Death by Design”. She’ll take us behind the scenes to discover the true cost of these convenient devices we rely on daily.
“Death by Design” will be featured at Loaded Joe’s in Avon on Tuesday and at the Dusty Boot in Eagle on Tuesday, Jan. 15, (both at 6:30 p.m.) as a part of the Sustainable Film Series.
The series is an annual project of Walking Mountains Science Center intended to raise awareness and encourage community conversation about pressing issues impacting our world.
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Walking Mountains Science Center works closely with other local organizations to encourage proper disposal of electronic waste in Eagle County. Attend the film showing to learn what is happening locally and how you can take action for environmental justice and the health of our community.
To view the entire line-up of the series, visit http://www.walkingmountains.org/films and for more information about this film, visit http://deathbydesignfilm.com/.
If you go …
What: Sustainable Film Series, “Death by Design.”
When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m.
Where: Loaded Joe’s in Avon; Dusty Boot in Eagle.
Cost: $5 suggested donation.
More information: melissak@walkingmountains.org.