| Not long ago, CBS' "60 Minutes" program broadcast a | | | | one must first be able to pinpoint the telltale signs that |
| story on e-waste and global dumping. The reporters | | | | a recycling company engages in global dumping. |
| followed a trail of electronic recycling items from a | | | | Irresponsible recycling companies: |
| Denver-based company all the way to Hong Kong, | | | | |
| China and caught the so-called "recycling" company | | | | 1. Avoid educating the public about the e-waste crisis |
| red-handed engaging in global e-waste dumping. | | | | either on their company Web site or in their company |
| With over 80% of recycled electronics and computers | | | | marketing collateral. Irresponsible electronics recyclers |
| ending up as high-tech e-waste in developing countries | | | | make it look very easy so that the consumer won't |
| such as China, India, and Africa, we need to step up as | | | | ask any questions. |
| responsible citizens of the world and choose computer | | | | 2. Omit details about how they track and manage the |
| and electronics recycling companies very carefully. We | | | | recycling process to avoid global dumping. Again, the |
| must support only those electronics recycling | | | | less the consumer knows, the easier it is for an |
| companies that are running both a socially and an | | | | irresponsible electronics recycler to engage in some |
| environmentally sound operation, end-to-end. To | | | | form of global dumping |
| understand how global dumping occurs, it helps to first | | | | 3. Host greenwash events with reputable nonprofits |
| understand the business model for electronic recycling. | | | | that don't understand the proper recycling process. By |
| To sustain as a business, electronic recyclers must | | | | making the electronics recycling process sound easy |
| generate enough revenues from all its recycling and | | | | and by hiding under the guise of fundraising for schools, |
| reuse services and the reclamation of precious metals | | | | chambers of commerce, police association leagues |
| and other recycling materials, minus operating costs | | | | and other nonprofits, these electronics recyclers |
| and the cost of de-manufacturing those items that | | | | further disarm the general public about "donating" their |
| yield no value (yet harm the environment). | | | | unwanted electronics at "fundraising" events. |
| The difference between an environmentally | | | | Electronics recyclers participating at a greenwash |
| responsible computer and electronics recycling | | | | fundraiser do not charge any recycling fees, yet |
| company and an irresponsible one can be broken | | | | generate enough funds to donate to the nonprofit and |
| down as follows: a) the way they generate reuse | | | | can still pay the high costs of de-manufacturing toxic |
| revenues; b) how they reclaim precious metals and | | | | elements. This business model doesn't exist because it |
| recycling materials; c) how they manage the | | | | is simply too good to be true. It's also an abuse of the |
| de-manufacturing process of low-value, toxic elements. | | | | goodwill of the nonprofits involved. The truth is, these |
| Consider the precious metal reclamation process for a | | | | fundraising "recyclers" collect items that can be |
| moment. A responsible company would need to invest | | | | reclaimed for cash and then dump the rest on |
| in having a safe working environment with proper | | | | developing countries. They incur minimal handling costs |
| protective gear for it workers and proper waste | | | | by selling them as "exports." That is how 80% of |
| treatment procedures to prevent environmental | | | | computer and electronics recycling materials in the U.S. |
| contamination. In addition, a responsible electronics | | | | end up as e-waste in developing countries. |
| recycling company will operate using specialized | | | | 4. Fail to provide either a permanent address for their |
| de-manufacturing equipment that protects the workers | | | | electronics recycling facility or a proper permit to |
| from the harmful materials or dust that escapes during | | | | operate as a recycler. Many use a P.O. Box or just a |
| the de-manufacturing process. | | | | phone number that they publish during neighborhood |
| An irresponsible recycling company avoids any | | | | pick-up campaigns. When you call, it always goes |
| investment in the de-manufacturing area. In fact, | | | | directly to an answering machine. There is no one |
| irresponsible recycling companies never lay eyes on | | | | available to tell you more about their services. |
| the workers who eventually break apart the leftover | | | | Now that you know how to identify an irresponsible |
| electronic parts. As seen in the "60 Minutes" program, | | | | electronic recycling company, let's review what a |
| those workers are typically low-paid laborers from | | | | responsible electronics recycling company looks like. |
| remote villages, who use bare hands and primitive | | | | |
| tools such as chisels and hammers to pry the precious | | | | 1. Look for an electronics recycler who states a |
| materials from the discarded items. The final discarded | | | | corporate commitment to addressing the global |
| parts are then dumped anywhere - in rivers or | | | | e-waste crisis. |
| streams or burned in a swamp - causing major public | | | | 2. Use computer and electronics recycling companies |
| health issues. | | | | that actively educate the public about the e-waste |
| The most hazardous materials found in e-waste are | | | | crisis and the socially responsible way to recycle and |
| not the reclaimed precious metals, but the low-value, | | | | de-manufacture. |
| toxic materials such as Mercury found in switches and | | | | 3. Make sure your electronics recycling company can |
| flat screens and the brominated flame retardants used | | | | demonstrate its thorough process in evaluating reuse |
| on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casings. | | | | items, items for de-manufacturing and also its |
| These are the materials that require major investment | | | | monitoring system to keep track of the entire |
| in the de-manufacturing process. In summary, the cost | | | | de-manufacturing process. |
| to operate a safe operating de-manufacturing facility | | | | 4. Support electronics recyclers who use only |
| makes responsible electronic recycling much more | | | | U.S.-based de-manufacturing facilities that have the |
| difficult than the much used alternate: global dumping. | | | | proper permits, de-manufacturing machines and |
| Yielding to the higher reclaim prices offered by the | | | | processes and safety and health monitoring system |
| irresponsible global dumpers, many so-called recycling | | | | for their workers. |
| collectors send their materials to irresponsible recyclers, | | | | 5. Use computer and electronics recyclers that |
| who in turn "sell" the recycling cargo to exporters. A | | | | generate enough revenues from services to be able |
| few handshakes later and the e-waste cargo arrives | | | | to allocate the proper budget toward responsible |
| at the ports of the global village's poorest countries. | | | | processing of toxic materials. |
| Since the U.S. prohibits dumping of electronic waste in | | | | 6. Choose an electronics recycler that is well |
| other countries, most of the e-waste cargo is shipped | | | | respected by environmentalists who have been |
| under the label "Used Equipment," whereas in fact | | | | focused on the e-waste crisis. These environmentalists |
| most of the recycled electronic waste is either too old | | | | have seen firsthand how dumping occurs and are |
| or too out-of-order to have any reuse value. | | | | very knowledgeable about how to identify responsible |
| In order to identify a responsible recycling company, | | | | recyclers. |