VOA慢速英语: 韩国尝试重新利用更多的电子垃圾
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South KoreaAttempting to Reuse More E-Waste
韩国尝试重新利用电子垃圾
South Koreais dealing with increasing amounts of waste from electronic devices. These useless or unwanted parts are often called “e-waste.”
韩国正在处理日益增长的电子产品垃圾。这些没用或者不需要的零部件通常被称为“电子垃圾”。
Tons of old computers, telephones and other devices are often taken to landfills and buried under the ground. The old products may leak toxic or poisonous chemicals.
数吨的旧电脑、旧手机以及其它的设备通常送到垃圾填埋区，或者被埋入地下。这些废旧的产品也许会释放有毒的化学物质。
Now, some local governments in South Korea are launching special e-waste recycling programs. The city of Seoul throws out about 10 tons of e-waste each year. About 20 percent of that goes to the Seoul Resource Center, also known as the SR Center. There, electronic devices are taken apart so that valuable metals like gold or copper can be extracted and reused. South Korean officials say metal extraction is a $3.8 billion-dollar industry.
现在，韩国一些当地政府发起电子垃圾循环利用的项目。首尔市每年会丢掉十吨的电子垃圾，大概只有20%电子垃圾会送到首尔资源中心。在那里，电子设备被分解成有用的金属，比如金子或者铜能够剥离出来，重新利用。韩国官员说这种金属提取是价值38亿元的行业。
Ji Un-geun is the chief executive officer of the SR Center. He says reusing electronic parts is not only about earning profits. He says the goal is to protect the environment.
金俊恩（Ji Un-geun）是首尔资源中心的首席执行官，他说重新使用电子产品的部分零件不仅仅事关挣钱，最主要的目的是保护环境。
He says, “Our planet has a limited amount of natural resources. Our company contributes to a sustainable society, by conserving these materials.”
他说：“我们的地球，自然资源有限，我们公司通过节约使用这些金属原材料，为可持续型社会贡献一份力量。”
Ji Un-Geun says about 90 percent of what is brought to the center will be used on other products.
金俊恩说送到资源中心90%的电子垃圾分离的金属会在其它产品中使用。
The increase of e-waste is not only a concern in South Korea. The United Nations says millions of tons of e-waste end up in developing countries. Toxic materials like lead and mercury can create a severe health risk to the local population.
电子垃圾的增加不仅仅是韩国关心的问题，联合国称发展中国家堆积成千百万的电子垃圾。有毒物质像铅和汞会对当地人的健康构成严重的威胁。
The Seoul city government partnered with the SR Center to collect e-waste in 2009.
首尔市政府与首尔资源中心在2009年合作，收集电子垃圾。
Lee Tae-hong lives in the South Korean capital. He says recycling is also about protecting personal information from attack.
李泰宏（Lee Tae-hong）住在韩国的首都，他说循环利用能够保护个人信息免遭恶意攻击。
He says, “If devices like phones are not recycled, then they could illegally end up in other countries like China or in Southeast Asia, and personal data could be stolen.”
他说：“如果电子设备像手机如果不被回收利用，有可能就会被非法的运到其它国家，像中国或者东南亚国家，而且个人数据也会被盗取。”
But some environmental groups say not enough is being done to limit the amount of electronics sent to landfills. South Koreans keep buying more and more electronic gadgets. Some experts estimate that only 21 percent of the country’s total e-waste gets properly recycled.
但是一些环境保护组织说限制电子垃圾数量送往垃圾填埋区的努力做的还不够。韩国人在购买越来越多的电子产品。一些专家估计只有21%的电子垃圾得到合理的回收利用。
Lee Joo-hong is with the Green Consumers Network. He says the average South Korean buys a new mobile phone every 18 months. He says companies offer special deals to buy new products.
李泰宏是绿色消费者网站的一员，他说韩国人平均一年半买一部新手机，公司与这些购买新产品的顾客签有特殊协议。
He says, “People change their phones so quickly partially because companies offer big subsidies to buy new products. And Korean consumers do not want to feel left out by not having the latest model.”
他说：“人们更换手机如此迅速部分原因是因为公司向购买新产品的顾客提供很大的补贴优惠。韩国消费者不想因为自己没有最新的电子产品，觉得自己被排挤。”
Ji Un-geun agrees with Lee Joo-hong. He says that consumer behavior is a big reason why old phones continue to appear at the recycling center. But he says he is doing his part to reduce that.
李俊恩同意李泰宏的观点。他说消费者的行为是为什么有那么多旧手机出现在回收利用中心的原因。但是他说他个人努力做到减少更换手机频率。
He says, “I have had this same phone for 10 years. It is what I can do to help conserve our natural resources”
他说：“我手机已经用了10年，这是我为保护自然资源所能做的一点努力。”
He says that more South Korean cities need to start their own recycling programs to keep up with the increasing amount of e-waste.
他说韩国更多的城市需要开始他们的垃圾回收利用计划，来应对处理日益增长的电子垃圾。
I’m Jonathan Evans.
我是乔纳森·伊凡斯。
______________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
extract – v. to remove something by pulling it out or cutting it out
gadgets – n. small, useful devices
subsidies – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function
toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances
South Korea Attempting to Reuse More E-Waste
 |
|
South Korea is coping with increasing amounts of garbage from electronic devices, also called “e-waste.” |
South Korea is dealing with increasing amounts of waste from electronic devices. These useless or unwanted parts are often called “e-waste.”
Tons of old computers, telephones and other devicesare often taken to landfills and buried under the ground. The old products may leak toxic or poisonouschemicals.
Now, some local governments in South Korea arelaunching special e-waste recycling programs. The cityof Seoul throws out about 10 tons of e-waste eachyear. About 20 percent of that goes to the SeoulResource Center, also known as the SR Center. There,electronic devices are taken apart so that valuablemetals like gold or copper can be extracted andreused. South Korean officials say metal extraction is a $3.8 billion-dollar industry.
Ji Un-geun is the chief executive officer of the SR Center. He says reusingelectronic parts is not only about earning profits. He says the goal is to protectthe environment.
He says, “Our planet has a limited amount of natural resources. Our companycontributes to a sustainable society, by conserving these materials.”
Ji Un-Geun says about 90 percent of what is brought to the center will be usedon other products.
The increase of e-waste is not only a concern in South Korea. The UnitedNations says millions of tons of e-waste end up in developing countries. Toxicmaterials like lead and mercury can create a severe health risk to the localpopulation.
The Seoul city government partnered with the SR Center to collect e-waste in 2009.
Lee Tae-hong lives in the South Korean capital. He says recycling is alsoabout protecting personal information from attack.
He says, “If devices like phones are not recycled, then they could illegally endup in other countries like China or in Southeast Asia, and personal data couldbe stolen.”
But some environmental groups say not enough is being done to limit theamount of electronics sent to landfills. South Koreans keep buying more andmore electronic gadgets. Some experts estimate that only 21 percent of the country’s total e-waste gets properly recycled.
Lee Joo-hong is with the Green Consumers Network. He says the averageSouth Korean buys a new mobile phone every 18 months. He sayscompanies offer special deals to buy new products.
He says, “People change their phones so quickly partially because companiesoffer big subsidies to buy new products. And Korean consumers do not wantto feel left out by not having the latest model.”
Ji Un-geun agrees with Lee Joo-hong. He says that consumer behavior is abig reason why old phones continue to appear at the recycling center. But hesays he is doing his part to reduce that.
He says, “I have had this same phone for 10 years. It is what I can do to helpconserve our natural resources”
He says that more South Korean cities need to start their own recyclingprograms to keep up with the increasing amount of e-waste.
I’m Jonathan Evans.
*This report was based on a story from reporter Jason Strother in SouthKorea. Jonathan Evans wrote it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
extract – v. to remove something by pulling it out or cutting it out
gadgets – n. small, useful devices
subsidies – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the priceof a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue tofunction
toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances
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