Elektronik Atıkların Türkiye’deki Yolculuğu

Abstract

The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of technology in contemporary society not only facilitate our daily lives but also significantly exacerbate the problem of electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste is closely associated with devices such as computers, televisions, tablets, and especially smartphones. These devices, commonly referred to as Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), are continuously being discarded on a global scale, leading to an increasing accumulation of e-waste on our planet. As a consequence of the capitalist consumer culture and planned obsolescence policies, ICTs are often disposed of prematurely. Once they become e-waste, these devices are frequently transported from developed countries to the Global South, where cheap labor is abundant. This mobility of e-waste has resulted in the formation of e-waste “mountains” in disadvantaged regions of densely populated countries such as India and China, thereby posing significant threats to human, animal, and ecosystem health in those areas. ICTs can also be referred to as media devices; thus, the concepts of media geology and digital garbology were employed to analyze e-waste within the scope of this study. Drawing on international e-waste literature, the study investigated the dynamics of e-waste movement in Turkey. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with recycling companies, municipalities, and a large-scale enterprise operating in the Marmara Region, specifically in the provinces of Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, and Yalova. The findings indicate that Turkey exhibits patterns similar to international e-waste flows, particularly regarding unregistered (informal) e-waste. Due to Turkey’s economic and political position and its relationship with the European Union, the management of institutional e-waste is largely regulated and recorded. However, the local culture of scrap dealing (hurdacı) can contribute to informal e-waste activities. Tracking of household e-waste is effectively unfeasible; this finding concretizes Parikka’s concept of “Zombie Media” within the field. The scrap dealer culture exacerbates the risks of informal household e-waste flows. Issues such as environmental justice, digitalization, the climate crisis, and the inequalities driven by e-waste were not sufficiently articulated by study participants. This phenomenon is discussed as reflecting both the non-random, invisible materiality of ICTs and the persistent perception that “technology is clean.” While there are notable similarities between Turkey and the Global South in terms of informality, the e-waste movement in Turkey is not as destructive as it is in many Global South countries. In summary, due to their complex structures, e-waste flows in Turkey bear significant resemblance to international e-waste flows.