Welcome to the digital revolution!  No more film.  No more toxic developing agents and no more driving to the photo mat to drop off film and pick up pictures. We can all feel great about updating to digital because after all, digital photography is better for the environment, right? The honest answer is a resounding yes...and no. The truth is both traditional and digital camera technologies have environmental impacts.  Ironically, those cheap little disposables that symbolize the worst about our throw away society might actually be the greenest cameras of all. 

With traditional cameras comes the disadvantage of hazardous developing and fixing chemicals, such as silver halides and acetic acids.  Not only are they hazardous to the environment, they are toxic to the photographers using them. They also have a short shelf life, which usually means there is some measurable amount of waste associated with them.  And don't forget the petroleum based plastics and toxic chemicals associated with making the film itself. Not a very green picture.  

Digital technology has its own problems.  Although digital photography eliminates the need for darkroom chemicals, it does requires chemicals for ink-jet printing and produces computer chip waste. Unfortunately, no large-scale, well-established recycling programs exist for either (although things are improving).  Digital cameras also require computer technology to download the images. However, computers and printers (and ink and paper) can be used for other tasks.  Very few people find it affordable to own a computer and a printer solely for the purpose of digital photography. The good news is that many large companies, such as Kodak and Canon, have decided to remove lead from lenses, cadmium from sensors and mercury from displays on both traditional and digital cameras.  Another digital plus is that many new camera models are now designed to use rechargeable batteries. Both technologies require resources to produce camera bodies and both camera types use batteries.  

Single-use (disposable) cameras may actually be the most environmentally sound option available.  Since 1990, Kodak has recycled more than 750 million one-time use cameras through its closed-loop recycling programs.  Discarded cameras are collected and the components are ground down and reprocessed into new camera components and other useful products, including toothbrushes. A single-use camera can be recycled up to 10 times.  Despite the photochemicals needed to develop pictures, the recycling and saving resources probably makes the single-use camera the most environmentally friendly option. 

Click here for more information on Kodak's Single-Use Camera Recycling Program.

For high-quality digital images, Sustainable Media shoots with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel.