Spec & Goals 3 min
AQA Spec 3.8.1 — Environmental impacts of digital technology
By the end of this lesson you can:
- Explain e-waste and why it is a problem.
- Describe the energy and resource costs of computing.
- Suggest ways to reduce technology's environmental impact.
Warm-Up 5 min
The final impact lens is environmental. Making, powering and disposing of billions of devices has a real cost to the planet.
Quick starter
A new phone comes out every year. What happens to the hundreds of millions of phones replaced each year?
Reveal the idea
Many become e-waste — often dumped in landfill, where toxic materials can leak. Replacing devices so often is a major environmental problem.
Key Concept — the cost to the planet 14 min
E-waste
E-waste (electronic waste) is discarded electrical and electronic devices. It is a fast-growing waste stream.
- Contains toxic materials (lead, mercury) that can pollute soil and water.
- Often shipped to poorer countries and dismantled unsafely.
- Wastes valuable metals that could be recycled.
- Driven by short device lifespans and frequent upgrades.
Energy and resources
| Impact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Energy use | Devices, networks and huge data centres consume vast electricity — often from fossil fuels → CO₂. |
| Manufacturing | Uses energy, water and rare raw materials mined from the earth. |
| Resource depletion | Precious metals and minerals are finite; mining harms habitats. |
Reducing the impact
- Recycle old devices; recover the metals.
- Repair and reuse; keep devices longer instead of upgrading yearly.
- Use energy-efficient hardware and renewable-powered data centres.
- Power-saving settings; switch devices off when not in use.
Worked Example — a company's upgrade 12 min
Problem: A firm replaces all 500 laptops every year. Discuss the environmental impact and how to reduce it.
- Making: 500 new laptops a year uses energy, water and rare metals.
- Disposing: 500 old laptops become e-waste — toxic if dumped, wasteful if not recycled.
- Reduce it: keep laptops longer (e.g. 3–4 years); repair rather than replace; recycle or donate old ones; choose energy-efficient models.
- Balance: newer machines may be more efficient, but yearly replacement's footprint usually outweighs that gain.
Try It Yourself 12 min
Goal: Define e-waste and give two examples.
Goal: Explain two ways computing harms the environment beyond e-waste.
Goal: Suggest four things a school could do to reduce the environmental impact of its computers, explaining each.
📝 Exam Practice 10 min
Define the term e-waste.
Mark scheme
- Discarded electronic / electrical equipment (1).
Explain why e-waste is harmful to the environment.
Mark scheme
- It contains toxic materials (e.g. lead/mercury) (1).
- Which can pollute soil/water when dumped in landfill (1).
Discuss the environmental impacts of the growing use of digital technology, and how they could be reduced.
Mark scheme
Levels-marked (up to 6). Balanced points, e.g.:
- Harms — e-waste, energy use (data centres → CO₂), raw-material mining, resource depletion.
- Benefits — remote working, paperless, smart energy management.
- Reductions — recycle, repair/reuse, energy-efficient hardware, renewable energy.
- A reasoned conclusion reaches the top band.
Recap & Key Terms 3 min
Computing harms the environment when devices are made (energy, water, rare metals), used (electricity, CO₂ from data centres) and thrown away (e-waste with toxic materials). Recycling, repairing, extending device life and energy efficiency cut the impact. Technology also brings green benefits worth noting.
- E-waste
- Discarded electronic and electrical equipment.
- Data centre
- A facility of many servers that consumes large amounts of electricity.
- Resource depletion
- Using up finite raw materials (metals, minerals) to make devices.
- Responsible computing
- Reducing impact by recycling, reusing and using energy efficiently.
Homework 1 min
Task (≤ 15 min): Design a poster plan for an "e-waste recycling week" at your school. List three messages it should include about why and how to recycle old devices.
Model answer (shape)
Messages: (1) old devices contain toxic materials that pollute landfill — recycle, don't bin them; (2) they hold valuable metals that can be recovered and reused; (3) donate or repair working devices to extend their life. Add a drop-off point and a safe data-wiping reminder.
Award marks for: three valid, accurate messages about e-waste (3).