^

News Videos

Cell phone 'Tower of Babel' highlights China e-waste problem

Agence France-Presse
Cell phone 'Tower of Babel' highlights China e-waste problem
An art installation entitled 'Tongtian' by Shen Bolun made from mobile phones is seen at at a shopping mall in Beijing on March 30, 2019. The sculpture, based on the Tower of Babel and unveiled in a Beijing shopping mall on March 30, is part of a Greenpeace campaign to raise awareness about electronic waste.
AFP/Greg Baker

BEIJING, China — A Chinese artist on Saturday unveiled a sculpture made of discarded mobile phones and shaped like a cell tower in a bid to highlight the problem of electronic waste. 

The phones were rigged to a metal frame and synchronised so their screens would flash in various colours.

"The inspiration of my tower comes from the Tower of Babel in the Bible," artist Shen Bolun told AFP, referring to the origin story explaining why people speak different languages. 

Displayed in a busy shopping mall in Beijing, the sculpture attracted scores of curious bystanders who stopped to take photos of the exhibit. 

"I originally thought environmental protection is waste sorting, but I didn't realise cellphones could be recycled and used again," said primary school student Li Jiaxing, who was viewing the artwork with his mother. 

"After seeing this tower, I decided to donate my old cellphone here to make use of its remaining value." 

China's waste from computers, mobile phones, and other electronics will reach 15.4 million tonnes by 2020, said environmental group Greenpeace, which organised the display.

As a leading manufacturer and consumer of electronic goods, China was a logical place to launch an e-waste recycling and reduction campaign, the group said. 

Old electronic devices contain large amounts of metal that have economic value, said Greenpeace project manager Jiang Zhuoshan.

"If these metals are recycled, we can reduce mining and damaging the environment," she added. 

But there are still many barriers -- many are either unfamiliar with the recycling procedures or have privacy concerns about the prospect of someone else handling their personal devices. 

CELL PHONE

CHINA

E-WASTE

ENVIRONMENT

Philstar
  • Latest
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with