Destroying Unsold Goods: Harmful for the Environment

From a young age, we are all taught to recycle. In schools, community centres, hospitals, restaurants and business centres, we throw paper and boxes into the blue bin. Recycling is one of the simplest actions we can take to preserve this planet for future generations. Unfortunately, not everyone recycles as much as they should. A recent undercover investigation in an Amazon warehouse in Dunfermline, Scotland reported the disposal of more than 130,000 “new or slightly used” objects in a single week in just one location. This waste includes e-waste, also known as electronic waste.

What is Electronic Waste?

Electronic waste includes any item or device that requires batteries or electricity to work, from batteries to washing machines. When they end up in landfills, they leach toxic chemicals into the soil, air, and groundwater. A few of these chemicals lead to health risks such as:

• Mercury
  • Lung health risks
  • Digestive issues and discomfort
  • Weakened immunity

• Lead
  • Risks to long-term intellectual development

• Cadmium
  • Kidney health risks
  • Liver health risks
  • Bone health risks

Amazon responded to the ITV investigation stating “they are working towards a goal of zero product disposal,” and that “no items are sent to landfill in the UK.” However, Kwasi Kwarteng responded to the warehouse story with surprise, implying that this was an unexpected disposal. The Amazon whistleblower behind the story claimed, “there’s no rhyme or reason to what gets destroyed,” suggesting that this case of destroying unsold goods could be a result of a disorganized system.

Related article: The Global Electronic Waste Crisis

Tossing Stock vs. Waste Management Systems: Learning from Amazon’s Case 

Across the globe, we use a unimaginably high amount of resources every year. Zero Waste Scotland reported that the Scottish people used 18.4 metric tonnes of resourced in 2017, which is more than double the number required for sustainable management (8 tonnes). Most wealthy countries have designed waste management systems to take care of disposed items quickly and cheaply. However, for countries that do have an established waste management system, waste in any form can be very harmful, especially for lower income families.

What makes the Amazon case particularly alarming is how they were destroying large numbers of unsold goods, up to several million tonnes a year! More importantly, this waste is not from Amazon’s own retail business, but rather from some of the smaller organisations that use Amazon as a retail platform and distributor. According to a former employee who spoke to ITV, the warehouse had a target of destroying 130,000 unsold goods a week. This included top-of-the-line items and brands such as Dyson hairdryers, MacBooks, and iPads.

Conclusion

The Amazon case highlights the need for governments to enforce waste management systems into their legislature. This mega corporation is not the only company that throws away unsold items. This practice is rampant in the consumer goods industry, particularly with luxury brands. Designer fashion labels such as Burberry have been called out for burning or throwing out stock as a strategy to retain consumer exclusivity.

At Green Schools Green Future, we aim to educate ourselves and the next generation on sustainable living habits and practices to preserve our planet. Our first green school will incorporate green technology. We will reduce paper use, teach children how to grow their own food without wasting water and relying on pesticides, and equip our future leaders with the skills they need. Support us in our movement for sustainable education.