E-Waste Disposal a Huge Problem in Britain
The British Environment agency is cracking down on those who are sending electronic waste to developing countries. A man has been the first to be arrested for this terrible crime by the Environment Agency. Waste entering African from the UK has been a major problem over the last couple of years. The agency has really started to crack down by already stopping 33 cargos of e-waste from leaving the country. Several media agencies have really taken a huge effort to investigate the problem. Apparently, 23,000 tons of electronic waste are being dumped into Africa from Britain every year.
EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
The European Union has been pushing for people to recycle their old electronic equipment instead of simply dumping. Though the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, the EU is attempting to eliminate the improper disposal of old electronic devices. Even though they are making a huge effort to collect old products free of charge, only 1/3 of all electronic equipment is being recycled throughout the EU. Similar to Solar Panels, most electronic equipment is extremely hazardous to both people and the environment once disposed of and should be recycled to reduce this risk. By continuing to dump in small third-world countries, we are putting the people and their precious environments in extreme danger.
Britain is of course apart of the EU and is in full support of their efforts to eliminate e-waste. This arrest, along with cargo’s being stopped prior to leaving the country, could really make people think twice. Let’s hope that the dumping at least slows down and eventually is no longer happening. It’s bad enough to just throw these types of products in the the trash, let along sending them to a country where they are not welcome.
Technology is advancing so quickly and so many people fail to properly recycle their electronic equipment. There are so many recycling facilities out there that will take just about any electrical device at no cost. You can also try to sell it on Gazelle if you have newer equipment that is just sitting around your house not being used.
Comments
We here in Wisconsin, US are looking at laws to make manufacturers responsible for collecting e-waste. To cut back on consumption, consider the ability to upgrade any electronics you purchase. This can reduce the need to buy all new equipment in the future. There are more tips at my blog: http://recycleraccoon.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/an-18-ton-computer/
Buying a more quality product in the first place is definitely a great way to save money in the long term and help save our environment. Thanks for the great tip Recycle Racoon.
Wow, i still wonder myself where all the waste goes. Since some or most of it can’t be like burnt or reused.
Also, buying more quality products will not fix the problem when we have manufacturing outsourced to Asian countries that can make it for pennies.
Two things- wondering if you saw the report on ^60 Minutes a few weeks back, following America’s e-waste? I think that you can watch it online if you missed it.
Also, as to Tom’s point about quality products, Germany has some pretty strict’cradle to grave’ laws, where companies are required to take responsibility for their products including where they go when they are obsolete- so making quality products that don’t go obsolete becomes a major cost saving measure for companies.
Thanks Ali. America is doing the exact same thing to China that Britain is doing to Africa. It’s really sad that we are taking advantage of countries like this and our governments are allowing it to continue on.
Tom is right, they can send it to Asian countries that can make it for pennies, coz some other country used it to create an indigenous products.
Everyone of us is responsible for our own waste. Let’s save the mother earth.
In my own opinion, I guess it is not a huge problem if they know how to recycle all their wastes.
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