Every year, the amount of E-wastes is increasing. In 2014, the world produced over 41.8 million metric tons of e-wastes. The Environmental Protection Agency in United State reported in 2014 that 142,000 computers and over 416,000 mobile devices are thrown away every day, generating over 3.4 million tons of e-waste. E-wastes are definitely becoming a growing problem that risks our environment, causing Air pollution by releasing hydrocarbons into the air, Water pollution by dumped wastes, Soil Pollution from toxins entering the ground, and so on.

In response to this, more inventers are creating technologies that can help our planet Earth. Recently, Apple invented the machine named Liam. Liam ?dismantles iPhones? and ?sorts the components? for recycling. Liam is known to separate 1.2 million iPhone pieces per year. Apple?s environmental report claimed that, with its 29 arms, Liam can separate recyclable parts in high quality in 11 seconds. While this technology currently only exists in California and Netherlands, the attention to this interesting technology is notably growing.

This technology is significant because e-waste can be dangerous to us if sorted by hand. The article cited the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, informing the reader that 17 people died within 2 years by working at the recycling facilities in the United States due to dangerous e-waste separating jobs getting expose to toxic chemicals.

With this potential danger, Apple?s technology is both eco-friendly and safe to use. Apple?s environmental report recently claimed that Apple collected over 90 million lbs. of e-wastes by its recycling program, increasing the recycling rate by 71%. However, we need to also note that there is limitation to this recycling program. Amount of Liam robots are limited that they can recycle up to certain point. Hopefully more innovative technologies will be invented soon to save the Earth!

Credit to:  All Tech Considered @ NPR. ORG

(http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/04/24/475121784/these-earth-saving-robots-might-be-the-future-recyclers )

With a reference to:  WIRED.com (http://www.wired.com/2016/03/apple-liam-robot/)