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