94. From Kindle to kindling - how Big Tech creates waste

94. From Kindle to kindling - how Big Tech creates waste

From Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast by James Piper, Robbie Staniforth

May 14, 2026 · 60 min · Episode 94

About this episode

The episode discusses how Big Tech, exemplified by Amazon's Kindle, contributes to e-waste through planned obsolescence.

Amazon has announced that some older Kindles will soon lose support, turning devices that still physically work into obsolete products. It’s the latest example of a growing trend in tech, where companies phase out support and push consumers toward upgrades, creating mountains of unnecessary e-waste in the process. In this episode, we explore examples of planned obsolescence, the environmental impact of disposable tech, and what it could mean for consumers in the future. Plus, is wallpaper rub...

People in this episode

Hosts: James Piper, Robbie Staniforth

Topics covered

  • planned obsolescence
  • e-waste
  • environmental impact
  • disposable technology
  • consumer behavior

Keywords

  • e-waste
  • Kindle
  • Amazon
  • planned obsolescence
  • disposable tech
  • environmental impact
  • consumer upgrades

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Amazon

Products: Kindle

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