Dear Technetters

We all had numerous discussions about the need of controlled recycling of electronic waste as the much famed WEEE and many also famed "greens" request it. In a Swiss newspaper (NZZ) I read an interesting article about this item. It's in German and I try to translate it into English. Any failures in the translation are due to my fault and do not go onto the account of NZZ:

San Jose 26. Feb.(sda)
Used computers and other electronic equipment exported as electronic waste from the USA threaten the human lives and the environment in China and India according to a study. The survey has been published by the environmental groups  Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition and Basel Action Network last Monday in San Jose. As an example a region in Southern China has been mentioned where approx. 100'000 workers together with their families disassemble old computers and are exposed to poisonous substances. The electronic waste has already contaminated the groundwater to such an extend that drinking water has to be brought to the site. Large amounts of contaminated waste and plastics are burned and deposited in farmlands and irrigation channels. According to the study the US are the only industrialised country that does not comply with an international treaty that bans the export of hazardeous waste to developping countries. 

Maybe we should not only look on the ban of lead in the WEEE but also on the more than necessary regulations how electronic waste has to be treated. The sadest thing to me though is the fact that we need regulations because many people in industry act irresponsible and without any common sense if they are not forced legally to care.

Anyway, have a great day

Guenter

.

EMPA
Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Testing and Research
Centre for Reliability
Dipl. Eng. Guenter Grossmann

8600 Duebendorf
Switzerland

Phone: xx41 1 823 4279
Fax :     xx41 1823 4054
mail:     [log in to unmask]

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