E-waste trade unacceptable
June 29, 2009
Personal computer manufacturer Dell has imposed a ban on the export of its used equipment to developing countries unless the equipment is in full working order and intended for legitimate use.
Although it is difficult to enforce such a ban, it has a worldwide policy of accepting back all used Dell equipment without charge in order to try to stop its export. In addition, all of its supply chain must accept used equipment and should report those who do not.
This follows a call for computer manufacturers to take responsibility for dealing with electronic waste to ensure that the toxic waste is dealt with properly and safely. There is a huge trade in e-waste. However, much of it ends up in giant dumps in Africa, India and China where it is dismantled, burned and treated with corrosive chemicals so that very small amounts of chemicals are produced that can be sold on. This so-called "recycling" produces toxic waste that damages the environment and is dangerous to the people, often children, operating it.
Greenpeace believes that as much as 80% of the electronic waste sent for recycling in the USA ends up being "recycled" using dangerous low-tech methods in foreign countries and that much of Europe's e-waste is in the same situation, despite Europe's tougher laws. Greenpeace also wants electronics companies to eliminate some toxic ingredients from their products.
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