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Organizations Prevent E-Dumping in Developing World

by Lee Bains on December 30, 2009 at 02:59 PM


In 2008, Hong Kong authorities stopped 41 U.S. ship containers trying to carry 1.4 million pounds of "e-waste" and 82,000 pounds of lead into the region for disposal, according to USA Today.

While governmental authorities can prevent some of this technological refuse from entering their country, Jim Puckett, the head of non-profit, watchdog group Basel Action Network (BAN), says that they cannot catch it all. That's where activist groups like BAN step in.

Due to the efforts of BAN, and other organizations like it, law has come to the formerly Wild West-style of U.S. e-waste policy. For one, the federal government has gotten involved, the Government Accountability Office acknowledging and criticizing the improper disposal of U.S. e-waste in India and China. BAN has also convinced many corporations to sign no-export pledges, rallied significant support for setting standards on e-recycling, and encouraging companies to audit potential recyclers for their eco-friendliness.

That being said, tons of e-waste leave the U.S. every year.



While some activists claim that the majority of recyclers continue to export e-waste for improper disposal, Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, disagrees. "I have to believe the majority are doing the right thing," she told USA Today, adding that putting blind restrictions on exporting could punish developing nations that are trying to get a leg up with environmentally sensitive, cutting edge recycling facilities.

Regardless, the activists of BAN stay hard at work, patrolling loading docks and scrutinizing freight containers. Puckett believes that BAN's persistent tactics have unethical recyclers more than a little worried.

"The industry is scared," he told USA Today. "That's a good thing." [From: USA Today]

Tags: expire-images2009-12-30, recycling, trash, waste

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