Comments on: Dell Bans Export of Electronic Waste to Developing Countries http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/05/13/dell-bans-export-of-electronic-waste-to-developing-countries/ Environmental Leader Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Grace Lartey, E-waste Watch Ghana http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/05/13/dell-bans-export-of-electronic-waste-to-developing-countries/comment-page-1/#comment-231464 Grace Lartey, E-waste Watch Ghana Mon, 13 Sep 2010 03:37:38 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=14852#comment-231464 E-WASTE WATCH GHANA monitors the illegal shipments and dumping of e-waste in Ghana by the industrialised countries and documents the public health and environmental impacts. http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Waste-Watch-Ghana/128902477153239 E-WASTE WATCH GHANA monitors the illegal shipments and dumping of e-waste in Ghana by the industrialised countries and documents the public health and environmental impacts.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Waste-Watch-Ghana/128902477153239

]]> By: Robin http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/05/13/dell-bans-export-of-electronic-waste-to-developing-countries/comment-page-1/#comment-125357 Robin Thu, 14 May 2009 13:08:49 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=14852#comment-125357 Well, they mean well. Like the "boycott coffee" people meant to help the farmers in the 1980s. This demands fair trade. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, former state ewaste regulator, and current electronics recycler, it pains me to see big accounts (like the whole state of California, and now Dell) try to "one-up" the EPA, Basel Convention, United Nations, etc. by bandwagoning their anti-reuse policy. It's like obsolescence in hindsight. Every major institution which has looked at this had ruled that export for reuse and repair is legal, ethical, sustainable, and beneficial. The problem is the junk mixed in by companies who don't screen the loads. What pays for $5000+ transport fees overseas? The good repairable and working stuff in the container. The bad stuff is "toxics along for the ride". Here's a short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldXFgSz0AFU which explains WR3A.org's approach. And here is a recent NPR story on an individual in the "nameless faceless" international recycling community. Can't we improve Ms. Vicki's life more by trading with her women's recycling coop, rewarding them for improving work conditions, and sending them some good stuff? Do we really want to send her back to the copper mine? -- Well, they mean well. Like the “boycott coffee” people meant to help the farmers in the 1980s. This demands fair trade. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, former state ewaste regulator, and current electronics recycler, it pains me to see big accounts (like the whole state of California, and now Dell) try to “one-up” the EPA, Basel Convention, United Nations, etc. by bandwagoning their anti-reuse policy. It’s like obsolescence in hindsight. Every major institution which has looked at this had ruled that export for reuse and repair is legal, ethical, sustainable, and beneficial. The problem is the junk mixed in by companies who don’t screen the loads.

What pays for $5000+ transport fees overseas? The good repairable and working stuff in the container. The bad stuff is “toxics along for the ride”. Here’s a short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldXFgSz0AFU which explains WR3A.org’s approach.

And here is a recent NPR story on an individual in the “nameless faceless” international recycling community. Can’t we improve Ms. Vicki’s life more by trading with her women’s recycling coop, rewarding them for improving work conditions, and sending them some good stuff? Do we really want to send her back to the copper mine?

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