Role of Cloud Computing in reduction of Electronic Waste

CASE STUDY- E WASTE AND ITS REDUCTION USING CLOUD COMPUTING

A present without Technology is unimaginable. We are surrounded hugely by mobile phones, laptops, robots, etc and being a computer science engineer its almost impossible for me to stay away from technology. Technology has helped us to lead our lives conveniently.

But as they say "Everything has its own pros and cons". And here I am to present before you one of the biggest cons of technology i.e - ELECTRONIC WASTE. This is a kind of waste which is not biodegradable. Just like majority of the producer of non renewable waste are human beings similarly this waste is also being produced by us. In order to find the solution to this problem , it is very necessary to understand its cause.

Everyday we come across a new technology, which enhances our living standards further. Each day mark the launch of a new technology which comes to us in the form of new smart devices. As it is convenient for the users to throw away their electronic devices in the garbage in order to get the new ones, they do not realize the amount of E Waste they are producing. According to Wikipedia India is the fifth largest electronic waste producer in the world. This is waste is produced at various levels.

• For instance , lets analyze the waste produced by a technical college (X) . The institute (X) contains 500 units of computer system having 512 mb of RAM , 1.4 GHz (x64 processor) in order to run Windows Server 2008, but with the requirement of Windows10 in the computer systems today the former configuration became outdated. Hence these 500 computers became garbage. Obviously an institution would have enough money to replace the old computers with new ones compatible with Windows10. So this will produce a huge waste.
• In the last few decades many new devices were introduced for example, Floppy's were replaced by CD's / DVD's. CD's/DVD's were replaced by pen drives and the list is goes on....

This is the place where CLOUD COMPUTING comes into action. But here the question arises , How does the Cloud Computing helps with the reduction of E Waste?

The answer to this question comes when we understand the mechanism behind Cloud Computing. So , Cloud Computing is the renting servers online in order to manage ,store and process data instead of using your own server. Since each user doesn't need to purchase his own personal computer hence the garbage produced by disposal of them will reduced at the first place itself. Moreover coming back to the Example, the institute could now hire their desired configuration of computers on pay per use basis online and once there needs were fulfilled they could free the acquired computer systems for the other users. Hence in this way the need to buy new systems frequently will be eradicated. This could also be referred to as recycling of E Waste that too in a very wise manner.

In the conclusion its worth mentioning that Cloud Computing can play a vital role in reduction of E Waste. I would highly recommend each indivisual reading this article to enhance their knowledge about the same and help our world in becoming free from E Waste.