In a two-day Information Technology symposium, Bahrain University students encouraged the country’s administration to clean up its act in regards to electronic waste and reduce electric emissions. This two-day IT symposium discussed the means of reducing harmful effects on the environment and offered simple solutions in commercial and personal domains.
The symposium was organized by students of the College of Information Technology Society. More than 1,650 students from the university as well as Kingdom University, Delmon University, AMA International University Bahrain and Ahlia University attended the symposium. They had the opportunity to ask each speaker questions at the end of every presentation.
The symposium focused on the effects of e-waste generated by society and discussed ways to handle this through “green IT.” Solutions included environmentally-friendly computers, recycling of old computers and components, and business initiatives, such as Web meetings and paperless offices.
“For such a small country, Bahrain has a serious problem that we must deal with,” one of the guest speakers Dean Dr. Yusef Al Bastaki said at the event.
“IT is responsible for 2 percent of all global carbon emissions, equating this to the level of aeroplane emissions in the atmosphere,” said Al Bastaki. “A total of 1.8 tonnes of chemicals are used to produce one computer and the toxicity of all parts that are thrown away amounts to 67pc. In Bahrain, as yet there is no law against the dumping of old and used computers.”
Fellow guest speaker Esam Hadi, Alba IT department head, pointed out ways to reduce carbon emissions, such as turning off idle PCs, using laptops that emit less energy, lower power hardware, server virtualization and energy efficient coding and monitors.
“We need to start designing, manufacturing and disposing of IT equipment in an effective and environmentally responsible manner. Alba initiatives, such as reducing the amount of paper used in offices, web meetings, video conferencing and shielded Ethernet, where the same cable for power and information is used, have already been installed in the company. The use of the Internet is particularly important, in particular video conferencing as this reduces our need to travel, thus our carbon footprint is eliminated,” Hadi said.
Hadi outlined the key solutions to the rise of e-wastage and irresponsible “dumping” of electronic equipment. They include donating working PCs to other companies or charities, donating working PC components to companies for further use and proper distribution of non-functioning components to certified recycling units outside Bahrain.
“With this charity operation, we aim to target the youth because we want the issue of Green IT in Bahrain to grow and develop with generations, this is not just a phase,” Recycle IT project representative Saud Al Buainain said while highlighting the process behind the BDF's initiative to recycle and refurbish old PCs for the benefit of charities and schools.
A recent initiative by online auctioneer eBay (News - Alert) of launching a site gave its users a convenient way to sell or responsibly recycle their old cellphones and other mobile devices. “Our goal is to help keep harmful e-waste out of landfills, not to mention preventing the need for new gadgets to be produced and shipped overseas, which is a carbon-intensive process with a significant environmental impact,” a company source said in an interview.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Tammy Wolf
