Band 8 model answer

The accelerating pace at which consumers replace electronic devices, from smartphones to laptops to household appliances, generates tens of millions of tonnes of electronic waste every year, much of it toxic, most of it poorly managed. This essay considers the causes of this problem and the measures that could most effectively reduce it.

The primary cause is the business model of the electronics industry itself. Manufacturers deliberately shorten product lifespans through practices such as ceasing software support for older devices, designing hardware that cannot be repaired or upgraded, and releasing incremental updates marketed as transformative improvements. This strategy, sometimes called planned obsolescence, maximises sales volume but directly drives the premature disposal of functional equipment. Consumer culture reinforces the effect: in many affluent societies, owning the latest model has become a status signal, creating social pressure to upgrade even when existing devices work perfectly well.

On the disposal side, the problem is compounded by inadequate infrastructure. In many low- and middle-income countries, which receive large quantities of exported e-waste, informal recycling sectors extract valuable materials through processes that release lead, mercury and other hazardous substances into soil and groundwater, harming the health of workers and surrounding communities.

Addressing these causes requires regulation targeting manufacturers directly. Extended producer responsibility laws, already adopted in several European countries, require companies to fund the collection and recycling of their products, incentivising durable, repairable design from the outset. A right-to-repair framework, obliging manufacturers to provide spare parts and software access, would extend device lifespans significantly. International trade agreements must also close the loopholes that allow hazardous e-waste to be exported as 'second-hand goods'. These measures, combined with consumer awareness campaigns, can substantially reduce the volume of waste generated while improving the safety of what remains.