(a) Describe two environmental impacts of using and disposing of ICT equipment. [2] (b) State two ways in which the environmental impact of ICT can be reduc...
Question 1 Report
(a) Describe two environmental impacts of using and disposing of ICT equipment. [2]
(b) State two ways in which the environmental impact of ICT can be reduced. [2]
(c) Explain why it is important to dispose of old computer equipment properly. [2]
Answer Details
(a) Two environmental impacts of using and disposing of ICT equipment are:
- Computer equipment consumes electricity during use, and the generation of this electricity (particularly from fossil fuels) contributes to carbon emissions and climate change. [1]
- When ICT equipment is discarded, the resulting electronic waste (e-waste) can release toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium into the soil and water if not disposed of properly. [1]
(b) Two ways to reduce the environmental impact of ICT are:
- Recycle old equipment through approved recycling schemes that safely recover reusable materials and properly handle hazardous substances. [1]
- Use energy-efficient devices and enable power-saving settings (such as sleep mode and automatic screen dimming) to reduce electricity consumption. [1]
(c) Proper disposal of old computer equipment is important for two reasons. First, computers contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that can contaminate soil and groundwater if sent to landfill, posing risks to human health and ecosystems. [1] Second, storage devices in old equipment may still contain personal or confidential data, which must be securely erased or physically destroyed to prevent data theft and identity fraud. [1]
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