A two-day symposium held in Bahrain discussed the means of reducing harmful effects of e-waste on the environment and offered simple solutions in commercial and personal domains.

The Information Technology (IT) symposium was organised by students of the College of Information Technology Society at Bahrain University.

Expert urged Bahrain to clean up its act with regard to electronic waste and reduce electric emissions into the atmosphere at a student-led symposium.

The main focus of one was the effect of e-waste generated by society and ways to improve this through "Green IT".

Solutions included environmentally friendly computers, recycling of old computers and components and business initiatives, such as web meetings and paperless offices.

"For such a small country, Bahrain has a serious problem that we must deal with," said guest speaker Admission and Registration Dean Dr Yusef Al Bastaki.

"IT is responsible for two per cent of all global carbon emissions, equating this to the level of aeroplane emissions in the atmosphere."

"A total of 1.8 tonnes of chemicals are used to produce one computer and the toxicity of all parts that are thrown away amounts to 67 per cent. In Bahrain, as yet there is no law against the dumping of old and used computers."

Al Bastaki and fellow guest speaker Alba IT department head Esam Hadi pointed out ways to reduce carbon emissions, such as turning off idle PCs, using laptops that emit less energy, lower power hardware, server virtualisation and energy efficient coding and monitors.

"We need to start designing, manufacturing and disposing of IT equipment in an effective and environmentally responsible manner,"  Hadi noted.

"Alba initiatives, such as reducing the amount of paper used in offices, web meetings, video conferencing and shielded Ethernet, where the same cable for power and information is used, have already been installed in the company," he added.

Hadi outlined the key solutions to the rise of e-wastage and irresponsible 'dumping' of electronic equipment.

"The use of the Internet is particularly important, in particular video conferencing as this reduces our need to travel, thus our carbon footprint is eliminated," he said.-TradeArabia News Service