E-Waste Basics
What does the term e-waste stand for?
Electronic waste from discarded devices.
Which country produces about 60% of the world’s cobalt?
Congo
What is environmental justice mainly concerned with?
Fair distribution of environmental benefits and harms.
What field studies environmental harm and environmental crime?
About how much cobalt is inside a typical smartphone battery?
About 5–10 grams.
Name two common devices that contribute to e-waste.
Phones, laptops, TVs, tablets, batteries, chargers.
Congo supplies ___% of the world's cobalt
60%
Which EJ Principle does E-waste contribute to?
Principle 8.
Why is e-waste exports be studied in green criminology?
They can expose vulnerable communities to pollution.
About how much cobalt can be inside an electric vehicle battery?
10–20 pounds.
Why is e-waste considered hazardous?
Electronics contain toxic metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium.
What is the name for small-scale miners who dig by hand without machines?
Artisanal miners.
How does distancing relate to E-waste
Explanation
Why might green criminologists criticize corporations involved in cobalt supply chains even if the mining itself is technically legal?
Because green criminology focuses on environmental harm, not just illegal activity. If mining causes exploitation, pollution, or unsafe labor conditions, it can still be considered harmful even if it follows legal regulations.
What is the name of the company that is under fire for the Congo cobalt mining? (HINT: Chinese company supplying to big tech firms)
Congo DongFang International Mining
Why is e-waste growing so quickly worldwide?
Rapid technology upgrades and short device life cycles.
What percentage of people work in artisanal cobalt mining in Congo?
10-25%
What is one environmental justice issue connected to cobalt mining in Congo?
Unsafe labor conditions, child labor, toxic exposure.
How does the global electronics supply chain illustrate a key concern of green criminology?
It shows how environmental harms are outsourced to vulnerable regions, while wealthier countries benefit from the products.
How many phones are estimated to be thrown away every day in the U.S.?
416,000
What valuable metals inside electronics encourage people to dismantle devices?
Copper, cobalt, lithium, gold.
About how many children are estimated to work in southern Congo’s mining industry?
40,000
Why does cobalt mining raise environmental justice concerns globally?
The benefits of technology go to wealthy countries while environmental harm occurs in poorer regions.
Green criminology looks at environmental harm across what four stages of a product’s life?
Extraction, production, consumption, and waste.
Apply Pellow’s Environmental Inequality Formation (EIF) framework to cobalt mining in Congo.
Who is causing, experiencing, and responding to the environmental harm?
Causing: Global tech companies, battery manufacturers, mining corporations, and consumer demand for electronics
Experiencing: Artisanal miners, local Congolese communities, and children working in mining areas
Responding: Governments, environmental organizations, human rights groups, and journalists exposing the issue