From the massive adoption of cell phones and other consumer electronics, to the emergence of solar and wind energy, the impact of technology on modern society has been revolutionary. Yet the very successes of these new technologies depend upon the destruction of the environment and human health. One major cause of this destruction is the production of rare earth minerals (REM), an essential and irreplaceable component of most modern technologies. The minerals naturally exist in low concentrations, and often in the presence of radioactive materials. Processing just one ton of the minerals into a usable form results in two thousand tons of toxic waste. In 2012, the wind industry alone, which utilizes REM in wind turbine engines, was responsible for the production of at least 1 billion tons of toxic waste.

The battery in this Toyota Prius contains nearly 20 pounds of rare earths. How much toxic waste was produced from the manufacture of this one car?

In most cases, the waste is directly dumped into the environment without treatment. This is especially the case in China, which supplied 86% of the world’s REM in 2015. For example, in the Baotou region, a large 2,400-acre black lake was created from polluted water released by REM processing factories. The lake also polluted local soils and groundwater so much so that in a nearby farming community all crops and livestock died, and residents developed various illnesses. Historically, the protests of local East Asian communities against mining operations have been unsuccessful. Despite its detrimental health effects, REM production is spreading rapidly to other countries, including Brazil, Mongolia, India and the U.S., due to increased demand, and lack of adequate substitutes. While the minerals are essential for many consumer goods, their creation comes at the cost of the health and environments of vulnerable communities. Can society produce a world with green, efficient technology without polluting the rest of the world?