by Wun Jia Li (S3 2021)

        Good morning, Mr Tan, teachers and fellow schoolmates. I am Wun Jia Li from Class 3A. Recently, I came across a flyer which made me highly concerned about an environmental issue which can be avoided. Therefore, today, I would like to spread awareness about reducing e-waste as well as to urge you to play your part in improving the situation. By the end of this speech, I hope that everyone will have a better understanding of the impact of the issue on our environment and how we can tackle this issue.

       What is e-waste? E-waste, also known as electronic waste, refers to old, end-of-life appliances using electricity. These include consumer electronics such as computers, televisions or handphones. E-waste is harmful towards the environment because certain components of e-waste contain environmentally hazardous materials such as beryllium, cadmium, mercury and lead. When it is exposed to heat, toxic chemicals are released into the air damaging the atmosphere. It is one of the biggest environmental impacts of e-waste. Also, the toxic substances seep into groundwater which affects both land and sea animals. Additionally, e-waste also threatens resource availability as it contains many recyclable materials which we should reuse, reduce and recycle instead. Now that all of you have understood the negative impacts of e-waste on our environment, you may be wondering how we can prevent further harm to the environment.

       What kind of solutions can we adopt to tackle this issue? I have two solutions on hand to share with you. First of all, I urge you to buy less.  Using things we simply do not need is probably the biggest cause of e-waste. We should question ourselves if we really need the gadget before buying it. Listening to the voice in your head prevents you from buying things you do not need; make sure that it is a need and not a want. Secondly, recycle used electronic devices, do resort to repairing them where feasible, reusing the items if they are still in working condition and recycling unwanted gadgets by making use of voluntary recycling schemes. We should not think of discarding them the moment they stop working. There are companies that will take out old and unwanted electronics, dismantle them, and separate them into different recyclable materials – like plastic, glass and metals, which can be used to make new products. Therefore, we should all play a part by taking a small step to make a huge difference to our environment. Take a moment to ponder about this and make responsible decisions when you face such circumstances.

       There is a saying that no man is an island. We much work together to spread awareness about this issue so that more people can do their part to reduce e-waste. Firstly, you can decorate posters to inform others about e-waste. Include concrete steps on how you can reduce e-waste and also inform them about the negative impact e-waste has had on our environment so they know the severity of this issue. Secondly, you can conduct house visits in groups to collect unwanted electronic devices. Then, they can be donated to recycling companies so they can take the appropriate action. This is ideal for people who choose not to recycle because they are lazy or they are not informed. With that, I hope that you will successfully spread awareness about this environmental issue and enable more people to do their part to save the earth.

       In this speech, I have outlined the impact of e-waste on our environment, how you can do your part to tackle this issue and lastly, how we can raise awareness about it. It is my honour that you are inspired to make a change, learn to dispose your e-waste properly and care for the environment. Should you have any questions, feel free to ask me when you see me around in school. Thank you, and have a nice day.

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