Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. toxic
    • ex. The water in the river is toxic, so people should not drink it.
  2. mercury
    • ex. The scientist warned that mercury in the water can be dangerous to people and animals.
  3. leak
    • ex. The boat began to leak, so we had to fix it quickly.
  4. copper
    • ex. The artist made a statue from copper.
  5. mining
    • ex. Mining can cause problems for the environment.

Article

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

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Experts say electronic waste is growing quickly as many people keep old devices instead of recycling them. Items like phones, laptops, and fitness trackers often remain in homes because recycling can seem difficult or expensive. The United Nations reported that the world produced 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, but only about 22% was recycled. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency says less than a quarter of e-waste is properly recycled each year.

E-waste can harm the environment if it is thrown in landfills. Electronics contain toxic materials like mercury and lead, which can leak into the earth and water. At the same time, devices also have valuable metals such as gold, silver, and copper. Experts say recycling helps recover these materials and reduces the need for mining. It may also lower the cost of making new electronics in the future.

Recycling electronics is more complex than recycling paper or plastic because devices have many parts. Experts advise people to look for special e-waste collection sites in their area. By recycling properly, consumers can help protect the environment and reduce harmful waste.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

E-waste

  • Do you think your actions add to the increase of e-waste? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Why do you think e-waste is rapidly increasing? Discuss.
  • What do you think might happen in the future if e-waste won’t be thrown away properly? Discuss.

Recycling

  • Do you recycle waste? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your country, how important is recycling? Discuss.
  • Are there special e-waste collection sites in your city/country? Discuss.