VOA慢速英语2014 韩国尝试重新利用更多的电子垃圾

 

South Korea Attempting to Reuse More E-Waste 韩国尝试重新利用更多的电子垃圾

South Korea is dealing¹ with increasing amounts of waste from electronic devices. These useless or unwanted parts are often called “e-waste.”

Tons of old computers, telephones and other devices are often taken to landfills and buried under the ground. The old products may leak toxic² or poisonous chemicals.

Now, some local governments in South Korea are launching special e-waste recycling programs. The city of Seoul throws out about 10 tons of e-waste each year. About 20 percent of that goes to the Seoul Resource Center, also known as the SR Center. There, electronic devices are taken apart so that valuable metals like gold or copper³ can be extracted and reused. South Korean officials say metal extraction is a $3.8 billion-dollar industry.

Ji Un-geun is the chief executive officer of the SR Center. He says reusing electronic parts is not only about earning profits. He says the goal is to protect the environment.

He says, “Our planet has a limited amount of natural resources. Our company contributes to a sustainable society, by conserving⁴ these materials.”

Ji Un-Geun says about 90 percent of what is brought to the center will be used on other products.

The increase of e-waste is not only a concern in South Korea. The United Nations says millions of tons of e-waste end up in developing countries. Toxic materials like lead and mercury can create a severe health risk to the local population.

The Seoul city government partnered with the SR Center to collect e-waste in 2009.

Lee Tae-hong lives in the South Korean capital. He says recycling is also about protecting personal information from attack.

He says, “If devices like phones are not recycled, then they could illegally end up in other countries like China or in Southeast Asia, and personal data could be stolen.”

But some environmental groups say not enough is being done to limit the amount of electronics sent to landfills. South Koreans keep buying more and more electronic gadgets⁵. Some experts estimate that only 21 percent of the country’s total e-waste gets properly recycled.

Lee Joo-hong is with the Green Consumers Network. He says the average South Korean buys a new mobile phone every 18 months. He says companies offer special deals to buy new products.

He says, “People change their phones so quickly partially⁶ because companies offer big subsidies⁷ to buy new products. And Korean consumers do not want to feel left out by not having the latest model.”

Ji Un-geun agrees with Lee Joo-hong. He says that consumer behavior is a big reason why old phones continue to appear at the recycling center. But he says he is doing his part to reduce that.

He says, “I have had this same phone for 10 years. It is what I can do to help conserve⁸ our natural resources”

He says that more South Korean cities need to start their own recycling programs to keep up with the increasing amount of e-waste.

Words in this Story

extract – v. to remove something by pulling it out or cutting it out

gadgets – n. small, useful devices

subsidies – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function

toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

4 conserving   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Contour planning with or without terracing is effective in conserving both soil and moisture. 顺等高线栽植，无论做或不做梯田对于保持水土都能有效。 来自辞典例句
• Economic savings, consistent with a conserving society and the public philosophy. 经济节约，符合创建节约型社会的公共理念。 来自互联网

5 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

6 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

7 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！