Posted by Max Chen on July 15, 1998 at 18:59:02:
Hello, I'm an engineer pretty fresh out of Cornell
University and have started working for a design
consultancy here in San Francisco. I did a report
during my last semester on Victor Papanek and his
book, "The Green Imperative." (and then he passed away)
Maybe it is just because I'm new, but I don't feel it
is my place to tell my clients that they need to be
environmentally conscious. They are mainly hitech firms
looking for a quick and substantial bottom line. They
don't want to take back their obsolete products and
they don't think about choosing environmentally aware
manufacturers (in Asia).
I'm having trouble seeing how I can educate our clients
about their entire product life cycle. Who's
responsible after the consumer has used and is ready
to discard the product? I can design for disassembly
to my heart's desire, but quite frankly I don't see
anyone taking the time to disassemble or recycle
any of it. Currently there are a number of computer
recycling centers in the Bay Area, but I seriously
doubt the average consumer goes to them. I had an
extremely difficult time just finding someone to take
my broken keyboard and old monitor.
Basically I don't see electronic stuff being recycled
unless it is as easy as recycling an aluminum can (which
can still be difficult in certain areas). That means
either metal shells or PETE or HDPE that can be picked
by most city's recycling programs. (computer in a
bottle?)
Anyway, I love product design, but have issues with
what the field is doing to the environment and people's
way of thinking.
-Max Chen