Becoming Information Literate about Information Technology and the Ethics of Toxic Waste

As instruction librarians and other faculty encourage the classroom use of information technologies, ethical issues arise. Information literacy students are frequently taught about a number of ethical, legal, and social issues involved in the use of information technology. However, the environmental impact of electronic waste (e-waste), the product of our industrialized society, is one issue that has received scant attention. This article explores the ethical and social justice issues inherent in the life cycle of computer technologies. It discusses the role that university faculty can play to increase awareness of ecological and social responsibility and offers guidance for information literacy instructors about how to incorporate information concerning the ethical use of information technologies in the curriculum.