一项研究估计，在英国家庭中，共堆积了多达四千万件不再被使用的旧电子产品。而且每一件产品中都含有多种珍贵且日益 “濒危” 的元素。

 

The Royal Society of Chemistry's survey of more than 2,000 people revealed that almost half have between two and five old gadgets¹ in their homes and most people have no plans to recycle them.

英国皇家化学学会（Royal Society of Chemistry）对两千多人进行的一项调查显示，近一半的人家中有两到五件旧电子设备，而且绝大多数人不打算对这些设备进行回收再利用。

 

This means an estimated 40 million old devices, most containing elements the Earth is simply running out of, could be languishing² in cupboards and drawers.

这意味着，大约有四千万件旧设备，其中大多数设备都含有地球即将耗尽的元素，可能会在柜子和抽屉里报废。

 

The mines for elements such as indium, for example, which is used to make touch screens, will be exhausted³ within a century.

例如，用于制造触摸屏幕的铟等元素的矿藏将在一个世纪内枯竭。

 

Meanwhile, demand for more advanced personal devices continues to increase. So scientists say recycling our old tech is the only sustainable solution.

与此同时，对更先进的个人设备的需求日益增长。因此，科学家们说，回收我们的旧电子设备是唯一可持续的解决方案。

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