E-Wasteland
In E-Wasteland, Sophie Gerrard explores the hidden human and environmental costs of electronic waste flows.
In India, a center of this toxic trade, discarded phones, computers, and televisions are dismantled in small, informal yards. Often, young workers operate without protection, exposed to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and flame retardants. Gerrard’s photographs reveal both the faces of these young laborers and the fragile ecosystems affected. The series shows how our digital culture retrieves valuable resources but sacrifices lives and environments in the process. Despite treaties like the Basel Convention banning the export of hazardous waste, illegal e-waste shipments continue. E-Wasteland urges reflection on the ethical consequences of technological progress and consumption.
