Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. wind up
    • ex. Lots of old clothes that are not being recycled wind up in dump sites.
  2. salvage
    • ex. Dad salvaged some wood from the old table to build a new one.
  3. scrap
    • ex. We sell scrap metals from old cars to recycling centers to earn extra cash.
  4. get (someone's) hand on (something)
    • ex. I really want to get my hands on that new book.
  5. collaborate
    • ex. The two companies decided to collaborate on a new project to increase their sales.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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The world is producing more e-waste than ever. There were 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, and it’s expected to reach 82 million by 2030. Almost half of it comes from Asian countries. In 2022, only less than 25% of e-waste was collected and recycled properly. It’s important to manage e-waste because it’s quickly filling up landfills and releasing chemicals that harm human health.

Some e-waste wind up with casual waste workers like Dam Chan Nguyen. He salvages old and broken electronic devices in Ho Chi Minh. Nguyen believes that nothing goes to waste. What can be salvaged is reused, and what’s left is sold as scrap. This situation is common in Southeast Asian countries because no e-waste is formally collected or recycled there.

Because no e-waste is collected, it’s difficult for recycling companies to get their hands on enough waste to make recycling cheaper. So, the U.N. suggests that companies should collaborate with casual waste workers. This way, companies can help casual workers gather and recycle e-waste without harming their health, which is one of Nguyen’s concerns. At the same time, workers can help companies gather the waste they need.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Managing E-waste

  • The world is producing more e-waste than ever. Why do you think this is so (ex. electronic devices are cheaper now, people change their phones more often)? Discuss.
  • Casual waste workers collect and salvage old and broken electronic devices. Do you think casual waste workers are the solution to e-waste pollution? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • E-waste is quickly filling up landfills and releasing chemicals that harm human health. What do you think is the best way to manage e-waste? Discuss.

The Business of Casual Waste Workers

  • In Vietnam, casual waste workers like Dam Chan Nguyen salvage and recycle electronic devices. Why do you think there are casual waste workers in some countries? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what kind of support can the government give to casual waste workers? Discuss.
  • The U.N. suggests that recycling companies should collaborate with casual waste workers. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? Discuss.