In our modern world, people tend to discard broken devices instead of fixing them. This trend is becoming more common because of new technological advancements, and affordability of the products. As a result, it affects significantly on the environment and the economy of a country.
One major reason why people eliminate broken devices instead of repairing them is the rapid advancement of technology. Companies regularly release new models of technology with better features, making older devices look outdated. As a result, many people choose to replace their gadgets rather than fixing them. For example, when a smartphone develops small issues, such as a weak battery or a slow processor, consumers often prefer to buy the latest version instead of repairing the old one. Another cause of this trend is the low cost of many electronic products. Mass production have made gadgets more affordable, sometimes doing repairs more expensive than buying a new item. For instance, replacing a damaged screen on a budget smartphone can cost nearly the same as purchasing a brand-new device, leading people to throw away their old ones rather than fixing them.
The throwaway society causes serious problems for both the environment and the economy. One big environmental issue is the growing amount of e-waste, which pollutes the soil and water with harmful chemicals. For example, in countries like Ghana and India, huge dumps of useless electronics release dangerous substances like laed and mercury which also harms people living close by. Another problem is the economic impact, as people spend more money replacing things instead of repairing them.When people buy new smartphones instead of fixing their old ones, small repair shops lose business, and workers may lose their jobs. For instance, in the U.S. ,many small repair shops have closed because companies make repairs expensive, causing people to buy new devices instead.
In conclusion, the action of discarding devices instead of repairing them is driven by rapid technological advancements and the affordability of new products. However, this trend has serious harmful environmental and economic results, such as increasing e-waste pollution and harming repair businesses. To reduce these negative effects, people should consider repairing their gadgets if possible and support sustainable consumption actions.