New technologies have brought us amazing new tools for modern life, experts are claiming that the supply is lagging behind demand for the rare minerals that make them possible. In a report by The Institute of Sustainable Futures, "Peak Minerals in Australia: a review of changing impacts and benefits," raised concerns about the continuing supply of minerals and says while few metals are in danger of complete physical depletion, many are becoming harder to extract.
This subject has been drawn back to the public's attention because a new study has been published the paper;
"Recycling 115,369 mobile phones for gorilla conservation over a six-year period (2009-2014) at Zoos Victoria"
published in PLOS One this week. *Link to study at the end of the article.
So how does this impact on Gorillas ?
One of the many minerals that is mined is Columbite-tantalite or it's common name Coltan. When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge. This valuable mineral is used in the manufacture of mobile phones and it is also mined from the mountain gorilla's forest home, destroying their natural habitat and threatening these endangered animals. Miners will invade and damage or even destroy forested areas in search of Coltan. The area where Coltan is mined also contains National Parks, such as the Kahuzi Biega National Park which is home of the mountain gorilla. In this park alone the gorilla population has been cut nearly in half. As well, poverty is caused by the displacement of local human populations by the miners and has lead to the gorillas being killed for their meat.
Coltan mines operate under boom/bust economics and not only which causes both environmental degradation and strips the mineral from the land. Coltan mining operators in the DRC are the most-publicized violators of human rights in the global coltan industry. Decisions made by technological companies using coltan, and the impact of those decisions on human rights, have dictated the health, economy, and social structure of the DRC. Conflict coltan mining began in the Congo; Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda have been accused of smuggling coltan out of the DRC for processing in China, then telling the UN that the smuggled coltan from the DRC is from their own domestic production. They have denied these claims.
What is the industry trying to do?
It is difficult for manufacturers to ensure that the coltan they use in their products is not from a conflict zone or unethically produced to date there is one process for verifying the origin of a coltan sample. This process, developed in Germany, involves creating an elemental ‘fingerprint’ via WD X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the composition and amounts of trace elements present in the sample. These results are then compared to the results of samples of known provenance, similarly to the Kimberly process that is used for diamonds. This technique works for samples of mixed sources as well as pure coltan; however, it requires having sample fingerprints for all original coltan sources on file. Ultimately, however, the burden falls upon the companies directly involved in the supply chain to reduce the prevalence of dangerous coltan mining
practices.
Many manufacturers will allow you to return your old electronics by mail or you can trade in your old phone when you buy a new one. There is a charity called Computer Aid which recycles old mobiles and computer equipment and sends them to poor area's all over the world (second link in the comprehensive list). There are many charities that will also accept your old phones and some supermarkets are giving cash back for old phones of up to £100 depending on how new the model is. We have compiled a list of a few of the places you can recycle your phones, all recycling of phones helps the apes with their natural habitat, or if you do trade in for cash you can donate it to The Gorilla Organisation @http://www.gorillas.org/ or WWF @https://www.wwf.org.uk/wildlife/mountain-gorillas
List of places to recycle your old phones;
https://www.recycle4charity.co.uk/MobilePhones
https://www.computeraid.org/for-individuals?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3cjOxtaL3wIVhLTtCh2DiQ9-EAMYASAAEgJ5HvD_BwE
https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/donate/donation-questions/other-ways-to-give
https://www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-to-help/recycling-schemes
https://www.fonebank.com/oxfam
https://www.blankparkzoo.com/conservation/please-help-gorillas-by-recycling-your-phones
https://www.eco-cell.com/
Header image from Compound Interest
Link to the latest study; https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0206890