STEM Technology

STEM Technology Topic 2: Environmental Issues Arise from the use of Computers

1. Project Proposal Report: Combatting Environmental Blight from E-Waste

1.1 Title Page

  • Project Title: Digital Decay: Balancing Trade-offs to Mitigate Environmental Blight
  • Student Information:
    • Name:
    • AVA VARAGE Uvau
    • LAKAMANGA Marthalyna
    • LANDOLPH Patrina
    • TILAU Faustina
  • Grade/Class: 11.F (6)
  • Subject: Stem Technology
  • Date: March 15, 2026

2. Executive Summary

  • Focus of Project:
    • Addresses Environmental Blight caused by the rapid disposal of computer hardware.
  • Key Issues Identified:
    • Technology offers short-term social benefits but results in long-term environmental "blight".
    • Consequences include toxic soil contamination, water depletion, and community health crises.
  • Framework Proposed:
    • Utilizes the PTRM (Prevention, Treatment, Restoration, Monitoring) framework for a balanced approach to e-waste management.
    • Aims to reduce the physical decay of the local environment through systematic interventions.

3. Introduction

3.1 Background and Context

  • Current Situation:
    • Millions of computers are discarded every year due to the phenomenon of "Quick Discard" cycles.
  • Existing Solutions:
    • Solutions such as "moving to the cloud" exist, but often simply shift environmental burdens to new locations (e.g., causing water shortages in data center communities).

3.2 Problem Statement

  • Main Issues Recorded:
    • Improper disposal of devices leads to physical blight in communities.
    • Hazardous materials (e.g., lead, mercury) can leak into local ecosystems.
  • Theoretical Insight:
    • The "Jevons Paradox" indicates that as technology efficiency improves, consumption increases, negating environmental benefits.

3.3 Purpose

  • Aim of Project:
    • To implement a multi-layered strategy to mitigate tech-induced decay and promote ethical lifespan management of hardware.

4. Project Objectives

  1. Mapping:
    • Identify local e-waste "blight hotspots" to prevent leakage of toxic materials into the environment.
  2. Education:
    • Raise community awareness of the PTRM approach and its implications for environmental protection.
  3. Analysis:
    • Evaluate ethical trade-offs associated with "Green Tech" to ensure local solutions do not cause" Human Rights Blight" elsewhere.

5. Project Description & Scope

5.1 Description

  • Focus Areas:
    • Direct remediation of blighted areas.
    • Impact assessment of computing trade-offs regarding their environmental and social implications.

5.2 Scope

  • Targeted Hardware:
    • Personal and school computing devices.
  • Environmental Concerns:
    • Focus on physical e-waste and its impact on local resource depletion, particularly concerning water and soil health.

6. Methodology / Approach (The PTRM Framework)

6.1 Mnemonic

  • Phrase Used: "Protect The Real Mother"
  • Components of PTRM:
    1. Prevention:
    • Design products for longevity; utilize clean energy sources (solar, wind).
    1. Treatment:
    • Implement water filtration systems to remove toxic substances and install air scrubbers for cleaner air.
    1. Restoration:
    • Use biological agents like plants and microbes to absorb pollutants; recycle e-waste to recover valuable metals.
    1. Monitoring:
    • Deploy AI technologies to predict environmental risks and employ drones for tracking pollution incidents.

7. Deliverables

  1. Blight Trade-off Summary Table:
    • A document analyzing short-term benefits versus long-term environmental impacts.
  2. Community PTRM Guide:
    • A simple flyer aimed at educating the community on methods for e-waste prevention and restoration processes.
  3. E-waste Recovery Report:
    • Data detailing recovered metals from local restoration initiatives.

8. Project Timeline

WEEKACTIVITYEXPECTED OUTCOME
Week 1Prevention AuditIdentify high-energy “vampire” devices.
Week 2Monitoring SitesMap toxic e-waste piles in the community.
Week 3Restoration DriveCollect hardware to prevent “community blight.”
Week 4EvaluationFinal report focusing on the “Bottom Line” and Jevons Paradox.

9. Resources & Budget

9.1 Human Resources

  • Team Composition:
    • Team Lead (F.), Group Members, Collaboration with School IT for energy/data center information.

9.2 Materials

  • Equipment Required:
    • Water testing kits for assessing toxic runoff.
    • AI technologies and drones for environmental monitoring (pending availability).

9.3 Budget

  • Financial Overview:
    • Minimal focus on community labor costs and the utilization of existing school resources.

10. Risk Management

10.1 Identified Risk

  • The Green Battery Trap:
    • Increased mining demand negatively impacting environmental outcomes while attempting to utilize “green” technologies.

10.2 Mitigation Strategy

  • Recommended Actions:
    • Emphasize refurbishment of existing devices and prioritize "Ethical Sourcing" over