Introduction
Public administration refers to the execution of government policy and strategies. The concept stipulates how appointed officials ought to conduct themselves in order to enable the control and running of the state.
State employees manage public programs and transform politics into tangibles so that citizens can benefit from them.
Public administration entails the manner in which the executive administers its decisions and conducts analysis of policies. It denotes formulation of legislation and subsequently, the implementation of the law. It also examines alternative ways of drafting policies and enacting regulations (Henrik & Merete, 2012).
Public servants manage, implement, and administer state policies. They ensure that the operations of the state run appropriately. This paper examines one of the policies enacted by the state.
The subject involves the recycling of electronic waste as a way of protecting the environment. The study focuses on the political, social and ethical implications of electronic waste to the public.
Recycling of electronic waste as a way of protecting the environment
Electronic waste also referred to as e-waste; e-scrap, electronic disposal or waste, electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) may refer to discarded electrical and electronic machines or equipments.
Governments and environmental experts continuously disagree on whether to resell, reuse and refurbish electronic waste as a way of conserving the environment.
Poor handling of electronic waste can result in serious health and pollution challenges. Electronic devices can be reused and repaired.
Electronic waste contains harmful disease causing agents. Recycling of electronic waste can be dangerous to employees and communities. The state must enact safety measures to safeguard employees that work in recycling companies from exposure to harmful electronic waste materials.
Political implications of recycling electronic waste
The international community regulates the recycling of electronic waste. According to Coley (2007, p. 39), “a global body enacted electronic recycling policies during the Basel Convention in 1989 after the Koko row.
An Italian investor who operated in Nigeria created international outrage after he disposed of 8,000 leaky barrels in the Nigerian region of Koko”. The Basel Convention’s main goal is to stop wealthy states from dumping e -waste in poor nations’ territories (Department of Parks and Recreation, 2011).
Electronic waste may have a number of merits. It may contain precious materials like gold and silver. Many rich nations’ toxic electronic waste always ends up in third world states.
The leadership of first world countries ought to uphold the Basel Convention in order to protect poor states from the effects and dangers of electronic debris.
The government must formulate investigative bodies and monitoring systems to prevent corrupt public servants from allowing the exportation of electronic waste to third world countries.
Social implications of recycling electronic waste
Electronic waste affects people’s health and causes cancer. It also affects the environment, economy and social life of people.
Negative environmental impacts of e- waste include air pollution especially the burning of trash. E-waste may include non biodegradable, toxic and radioactive materials that may be harmful to the soil and animals and which may cause blockage of water channels like rivers, pipes and the drainage system.
Electronic waste leads to increased public spending on medical care because of poor health. It also leads to investment on complex and expensive environmental conservation technologies. It affects the ozone layer leading to unpredictable weather patterns like prolonged drought.
Lack of water may lead to a shortage of food in any country. This aspect may prompt the government to use additional resources to acquire food for its citizens. The additional resources may be helpful to other sectors of growth and development of any given country.
Ethical implications of recycling electronic waste
The government ought to guide the public on electronic waste management. It can educate and sensitize its citizens through media programs or curriculum content in schools.
All government departments need to focus on the implementation of environmental management policies. This perspective may help in addressing challenges posed by e-waste exports to third world countries (Coley, 2007).
Industries need to use environmental friendly equipments that can be reutilized at the end of their intended purpose or easily broken down after use.
The government must set up a special department that ensures that waste management authorities address ethical concerns (Chris, 2011).
Waste management companies must adhere to recommended modes of transportation of electronic waste. Waste management companies must package electronic waste in carbon neutral wrappers according to state regulations and policies.
Electronic waste management companies must uphold moral standards embedded in international laws on the reuse and repair of e-waste. They should protect private data and information in the equipments.
The exporters need to be cautioned against using children to offload electronic waste from cargo chambers. Governments in third world countries need to be informed that the Child Act prohibits against use of child labor. Electronic waste may also harm children by causing diseases like lung cancer.
The International Labor Organization does not allow the use of child labor. States must be encouraged to develop curricula, and programs that encourage “green chemistry” in order to promote the invention and use of molecules, equipments and compounds that may not be harmful to life and environment.
Electronics industries can be advised to recall their manufactured commodities at the end of their life cycle and process them in respect to the law.
The government must enforce audit programs and evaluation structures that verify that electronics are manufactured, reused, repaired, recycled and processed in respect to policies and stipulated regulations.
Governments ought to make and implement policies and regulations that conform to moral and international standards. Manufacturers, handlers, transporters and recyclers of electronic waste must adhere to environmental laws.
Challenges and effects of electronic waste need to be shared among families, colleagues, friends, employers, public servants and leaders in order to create environmental awareness (Campbell, 2008).
Conclusion
Public administration entities must be managed efficiently in accordance to the law in order to ensure implementation of environmental policies and regulations. The government must integrate waste management as a learning unit in the curriculum, in elementary schools.
International environmental conventions must enhance the incorporation of environmental conservation in the curriculum, in all tertiary institutions. All organizations must comply with environmental conservation measures.
A special department should be set up to certify companies that conform to electronic waste management strategies.
First world governments must create laws that forbid companies, individuals and businesses from exporting, importing and dumping of electronic waste. Governments may also create a special police department that comprises of professional environmentalists.
The motive may help in arresting individuals and companies who do not comply with electronic waste management policies. The department may also start legal proceedings against defaulters of environmental regulations.
References
Campbell, C. (2008). Globalization, Extended Producer Responsibility and the Problem of Discarded Computers in China. An Exploratory Proposal for Environmental Protection, 14(6), 525- 531.
Chris, W. (2011). The Public Value of Urban Parks and Understanding Park and Usership. New York City, NY: The Wallace Foundation.
Coley, S. (2007). Where does Community Grow? The Social Context created by Nature in Urban Public Housing. Environment and Behaviour, 29 (4), 468 –494.
Department of Parks and Recreation. (2011). Park Design Guidelines. California, CA: Institute of Public Affairs.
Henrik, J., & Merete, K. (2012). Case studies on Waste Minimisation Practices in Europe. Web.