Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaul1114
Ebooks inherently are better on that front since they don't use paper. But there's still plastic to make them (thus dependence on petroleum), and problems with waste when idiots through them away when they break rather than recycling the device and it's battery properly.
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Waste is definitely a problem. I would say the plastic issue is miniscule in comparision to the energy required for production - in total, up to and including shipping.
Then there's the waste of the metals used for the electronics. AFAIK, this kind of waste is not properly harnessed by anyone yet. Even if you "recycle" rather than throw in the dump. "Recycling" doesn't always mean that the waste is properly taken care of. For a more total view on environmental impact, there's also the water spent on production.