70% Of India's Electronic Waste Originates In The United States

[hatrack]

NEW DELHI: "Consider these facts and figures: More than 70 per cent of the electronic waste (e-waste) collected in Delhi's recycling units is actually exported or dumped by developed countries like the US. Despite a ban by the Central government, these countries illegally ship around 23,000 tonnes of e-waste every year to India and other countries in the subcontinent.

This alarming trend, among others, was revealed in a report presented by Toxics Link, a leading NGO working in toxics and waste issues, at a workshop organised by the Union ministry of environment and forests on Saturday. The ministry conducted a series of seminars to address some of the prevalent issues, on the occasion of World Environment Day on Sunday.

According to environmentalists, e-w aste — generated from obsolete computers and discarded electronic components — contains over 1,000 different toxic substances like heavy metals, PVC plastics, brominated flame-retardants etc., harmful to human beings and the environment. In India, this was te is subjected to primitive and highly polluting recycling operations, which contaminate air, water and harms the health of workers.

Said Ravi Agarwal of Toxics Link: "We have been repeatedly stating that tonnes of e-waste are landing in various Indian ports for recycling. In the absence of access to customs data, this could never be verified. The report, however, squarely indicts developed countries like the US and UK."

EDIT

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1132843.cms

[mike_c]

1. people all over the world support the American way of life....

Literally. We exploit their resources and send them our trash, killing them and toppling their governments if they don't acquiesce enthusiastically enough. They, in turn, hate us for our freedom.

[fedsron2us]

2. The computer industry's dirty secret

It is one of the world's biggest polluters. The clean, enviromentally friendly image is a facade. The machines are full of toxic components and they also eat up a lot of energy in their production. The idea that the virtual world of IT has a minimal impact on the physical environment of the planet is a lie.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-11/acs-ttp110502.php

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=10007&Cr=computer&Cr1=

edit for links