Monday, November 19th, 2007, 4:48 am
Electronic Recycling an Excuse for Relocating Trash
Filed under: This extremely important issue was mentioned here before. Please do all that you can to pass on that information.
America Ships Electronic Waste Overseas
[...]
While there are no precise figures, activists estimate that 50 to 80 percent of the 300,000 to 400,000 tons of electronics collected for recycling in the U.S. each year ends up overseas. Workers in countries such as China, India and Nigeria then use hammers, gas burners and their bare hands to extract metals, glass and other recyclables, exposing themselves and the environment to a cocktail of toxic chemicals.
Obsolescence and forced upgrade cycles are among the things to blame here. Surely there is a better, more responsible way. Put this hazard right next to global warming, which most people turn a blind eye to. The planet is still being ruined by apathy and greed.
