Technological Change and the Environment

It is not surprising to hear that e-waste is the fastest growing area of the international waste steam. Electronic products are being manufactured to have a shorter shelf life than what they once use to. With the capitalist economy that we live in it makes it hard to manufacture products to last because the income will not be as great. I think that companies should focus a lot of their attention on making their products more environmentally friendly. The environment can only be ignored for so long, and with the increased technology things are only going to get worse. There is a need to break away from the treadmill of production.
So who should be involved in making changes? I agree with the product stewardship that everyone needs to be involved in order for change to occur. If a company makes an environmental product, then it is up to the consumer to dispose of it properly. One thing that I think would make a difference is by creating extra environmental charges on purchases as well as for the company. For example: The company who is producing a product that is not environmentally friendly should be charged a certain fee in order to cover the costs of disposal or to pay money that is going into environmental research. The consumers who are buying products such as cell phones every year should also have to pay an environmental fee. With the state of our economy many people are trying to save money but do not realize the little changes that can make a difference. Maybe when people get mad enough about having to pay the extra charges, they will stop consuming as much as they do. Technology such as cell phones and computers have become a necessity in our everyday lives, and I think that people are taking too many things for granite.