CH. 12 EWASTE UNSAFE{0}
Ewaste has been a major concern on the minds of many. In a recent study it found that 80% of Americans throw their old electronics in the trash. Every day Americans throw 350,000 cell phones, and 130,000 computers. This is the fastest growing part of United States garbage. Improper disposal of the electronics can cause lead and mercury to leak into landforms. Ewaste is expensive and is time consuming, and America ship most of their ewaste abroad. In the article the United States has refused to sign the Basel Convention. It is a 19 year old international treaty which regulates the export of hazardous material to developing countries. The recent study also found that 43 U.S recycling firms would consider shipping broken monitors with cathode-ray tube to foreign countries. None of the 43 recycling firms obtained the proper permission from the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency.
Much of the ewaste ends up in Guiyu, China. Here peasants heat the circuit boards to recover the lead. Ewaste in this area has highest level of cancer-causing dioxins and higher miscarriage rates. Many of the environmental groups are pressuring the manufactures to take responsibility for their products afterlife.
I found this article interesting because it talks about how we are shipping our old electronic products to developing countries and letting them deal with the hazardous waste. We are trying to be environmentally friendly but we are hurting the environment. America is one of a small number of countries to not sign the Basel Convention and we will end up doing more harm than good.
Reference: Walsh, B (Jan. 8, 2009) E-Waste Not Time Magazine. Retrieved on November 19, 2009 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1870485,00.html.