E-Waste

What is it?

• Any form of technology, including:– Computers– Monitors and television sets • Analog to digital conversion

– Cell phones• According to BAN the printed wiring boards of the 130million US

cell phone estimated to be retired in 2005 will generate approximately 40.6 tons (81,250 lbs.) of lead waste.

– Refrigerators

Where does it come from?

• Primarily first world countries like the U.S. and those in the E.U. – They are sold for export under second hand goods– Laws in both regions require these exports to be in

working order. This is not obeyed by all exporters.– Sometimes the waste is passed of as part of a

digital divide project

Where does it go?

• Middle East– Egypt– Pakistan

• Asia– Russia– China– India

• Africa– Ghana– Nigeria

What happens to it?

• As most (75%)of the technology they receive is broken or obsolete they resort to recycling it.

• Though the waste contains precious metals such as gold, its extraction is capital intensive.

• Metals the recyclers can recover– Copper – Steel – Lead

What happens to the scrappers?

• They are exposed to numerous toxic chemicals, compounds, and metals. – Lead– Cadmium – Mercury– Polyvinyl Chloride– Barium – Beryllium – Phosphor

Efforts to reduce e-waste dumping

• Though many counties impose regulations they expect e-waste recycling to operate like other legitimate businesses. This is a problem because:– There is a black market for the waste which can

bring substantial profit.– There is no available data on the global e-waste

trade.

Quotes/Comments

• If they're generating millions from e-waste we throw away then why is it the wests fault that they are polluting themselves? If they dealt with the waste in a responsible manner and took even basic precautions then they wouldn't be polluting their own villages.

• Right, they want it. They want a job so they can make money so they won't starve. Do they understand the risks and threats associated with that job? Based on how they perform the job, it would seem that they do not have a full understanding of what they have agreed to do.