UNEP: Healthrisk with Illegally Traded and Dumped E-Waste

[Kjelt]

Illegally Traded and Dumped E-Waste Worth up to $19 Billion Annually Poses Risks to Health, Deprives Countries of Resources, Says UNEP report:

http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=26816&ArticleID=35021&l=en

[TimFox]

I worked on an inspection project for Netherlands customs, and was surprised to see that this illegal trade is so strong that they needed to examine exported shipping containers to ensure that the bad stuff was not leaving Europe through their ports.  Other customs offices around the world were only interested in inspecting imported containers for contraband.

[Rick Law]

But how many people who otherwise would have no income benefited from this $19 billion dollars?  These guys just see one end of it.  These guys don't see the people who otherwise would have no food.  Dumper diving is not exactly healthy living either.

Yeah, stop it, and let how many people die of hunger.  The count will be zero because those living on the margin are not counted.  Tons of people buy and sell what others would consider waste.  They are not worry about not living till 70 because of health risk.  They are worry about not living by end of month because of hunger.

These people have no right to talk until they live in hunger for a while, and understand what that live is like.

These people make me angry.

[nctnico]

Next time I take a shit I'll box it and send it to the people taking apart e-waste; maybe they I'll eat it... Yes... that sounds just as dumb as the above.

People working in waste disposal will find other means of income.

[Tomorokoshi]

Here is an example of how used parts are recovered and returned to the market as counterfeit parts:
http://www.asq.org/asd/2009/03/compliance/counterfeit-parts.pdf

Counterfeit parts are unreliable, dangerous, and outright fraudulent. They can make their way through the supply chain fairly easily. The processing of counterfeit parts is dangerous and polluting.

[Rick Law]

Next time I take a shit I'll box it and send it to the people taking apart e-waste; maybe they I'll eat it... Yes... that sounds just as dumb as the above.

People working in waste disposal will find other means of income.

Ok, who will volunteer to tell them that in order for us in the west to have a guilt-free clean environment, we have decided that they should not have a mean to put food on the table.  Besides, we want them to have a chance of living as a healthy 70 year old - if they ever get pass age 12.

As to boxing your shit, if you can ship that at less than the cost of them buying fertilizer, by all means.

This is no joke.  I was used to the sight of seeing people in sampan scooping up poop in the bay so they can sell it as fertilizer.  That is their means of making a living for that day.  Which of course with better sewage facilities, those folks had to find another means.

If you are tired of people in the west taking advantage of other's misfortune, ship it to them free.  But don't pretend you are doing them a favor by deciding for them that their life is too dirty to live.

A coin has two sides.  Sometimes, it is sobering to view it from the other side of that coin.  No one should sit on his/her high horse and feel that he should decide for people on risks they take so they can live another day - not until they too have endure the hunger of those for whom they are deciding.

[LabSpokane]

I think the solution for e-waste is for the component recovery outlet to become legit. So old ICs get recycled into new products that pass functional tests? So what?  I think it would be great. There's now people who repurpose old clothing into new garments. Why should we not do that with electronics?

As long as everyone knows what they are buying and selling (products are clearly labeled as recycled), e-waste recycling is one good way to keep stuff out of landfills.  The problem comes when we either tell little white lies or choose to believe someone else's lie about getting a super deal on components.

Obviously the processes being used need to be cleaned up, but that will only happen when the system becomes mainstream and the form of recycling accepted.

[Rick Law]

...
Those selling and preparing e-wastes make much more money than Chinese aberage income. In China, expect $10 per hour for a MSEE, and e-waste scavenger can make twice.

Greedy makes them to do this, not poverty. You can live a cozy life in China with $2 per hour income. When I was in college, I have $200 per month, and I used this money not only to fed myself, but also built a complete electronics lab.

First, I want to be clear whom "those people made me angry" are.  Not people here.  I am mad at those mind-mush reporters writing stupid things and not realize they are taking food off others.

re: Greedy makes them to do this, not poverty.
I do not condone fake stuff.  I rather they mark it as fake recycled; or with problem proper cleaning and checking, sell it as refurbish.

re: You can live a cozy life in China with $2 per hour income.
You are probably young; you have not seen the China your parent's generation seen.  I am not referring to China alone.  I am referring to desperate economies, be it in China or else where.  Coastal China is a lot better now.  As you probably know, interior China is probably not far from the poverty of 1950 China.

I don't like to talk about ancient things.  But eons ago before I came to the USA, as a kid, I live that "other side of the coin".  So, I can relate.  I can see the foolishness of apply our frame of reference to situation entirely different.  I can say, I am damn pleased now I had someone greedy to work for as a "child labor" then.  Without that, I probably wont be around 50 years later.  Working in a "fume filled" factory as a kid, it probably had health impact.  I am damn pleased I had that "fume filled" factory to work for - it beats the alternative of not being around at all. 

Edit: for simplicity, I left the rest of the family out.  On reflection, talking as if I did it all is not right.  My elder siblings did a hell of a lot more than I.  Without their "child labor" contributions, the family would not have survived.  They did 10X more than me...

Edit: corrected two wording errors (strike out and replaced with proper word).

[nctnico]

Next time I take a shit I'll box it and send it to the people taking apart e-waste; maybe they I'll eat it... Yes... that sounds just as dumb as the above.

People working in waste disposal will find other means of income.

Ok, who will volunteer to tell them that in order for us in the west to have a guilt-free clean environment, we have decided that they should not have a mean to put food on the table.  Besides, we want them to have a chance of living as a healthy 70 year old - if they ever get pass age 12.

As to boxing your shit, if you can ship that at less than the cost of them buying fertilizer, by all means.

This is no joke.  I was used to the sight of seeing people in sampan scooping up poop in the bay so they can sell it as fertilizer.  That is their means of making a living for that day.  Which of course with better sewage facilities, those folks had to find another means.

If you are tired of people in the west taking advantage of other's misfortune, ship it to them free.  But don't pretend you are doing them a favor by deciding for them that their life is too dirty to live.

A coin has two sides.  Some times, it is sobering to view it from the other side of that coin.  No one should sit on his/her high horse and feel that he should decide for people for risk they take so they can live another day - not until they too have endure the hunger of those for whom they are deciding.

Those selling and preparing e-wastes make much more money than Chinese aberage income. In China, expect $10 per hour for a MSEE, and e-waste scavenger can make twice.

Greedy makes them to do this, not poverty. You can live a cozy life in China with $2 per hour income. When I was in college, I have $200 per month, and I used this money not only to fed myself, but also built a complete electronics lab.

Thank you for making my point. I also know a thing or two about how things work in Asia. It's not like there is absolutely no other way to make money over there.

[Rick Law]

Next time I take a shit I'll box it and send it to the people taking apart e-waste; maybe they I'll eat it... Yes... that sounds just as dumb as the above.

People working in waste disposal will find other means of income.

Ok, who will volunteer to tell them that in order for us in the west to have a guilt-free clean environment, we have decided that they should not have a mean to put food on the table.  Besides, we want them to have a chance of living as a healthy 70 year old - if they ever get pass age 12.

As to boxing your shit, if you can ship that at less than the cost of them buying fertilizer, by all means.

This is no joke.  I was used to the sight of seeing people in sampan scooping up poop in the bay so they can sell it as fertilizer.  That is their means of making a living for that day.  Which of course with better sewage facilities, those folks had to find another means.

If you are tired of people in the west taking advantage of other's misfortune, ship it to them free.  But don't pretend you are doing them a favor by deciding for them that their life is too dirty to live.

A coin has two sides.  Some times, it is sobering to view it from the other side of that coin.  No one should sit on his/her high horse and feel that he should decide for people for risk they take so they can live another day - not until they too have endure the hunger of those for whom they are deciding.

Those selling and preparing e-wastes make much more money than Chinese aberage income. In China, expect $10 per hour for a MSEE, and e-waste scavenger can make twice.

Greedy makes them to do this, not poverty. You can live a cozy life in China with $2 per hour income. When I was in college, I have $200 per month, and I used this money not only to fed myself, but also built a complete electronics lab.

Thank you for making my point. I also know a thing or two about how things work in Asia. It's not like there is absolutely no other way to make money over there.

A thing or two, perhaps.  Understanding how survive on the edge is like?  Perhaps not.  Which is lucky for you.  Besides, Asia is not where the most unfortunates are these days.

I am sure some of those scoping up poop made a transition, but if you read between the lines you would realize that additional challenges in live is not some thing folks on the edge of survival needs.  Perhaps this is the "last straw on the camel's back".

More over, if you read beyond the literal, you would realize what to you is poop, but it is a livelihood to someone.  It is not for us to judge what is too much risk for them so as they can live another day.

If it really bothers you that some rich/greedy guy in the West is taking advantages of others misfortune, start a drive, collect money for shipment so as the eWaste is shipped free from any profit making entity on the Western side of the world.

What really bothers me is some mind mush people never understood that his or her frame of reference doesn't apply universally.  Child labor may offend their sensibility, but it is a survival to some one.  I personally boycott companies that pushes their contractor not to use child labor.  Having been a beneficiary of it, I consider such action either heartless or more likely they are just foolish people.  Either way, I don't want to buy anything from them.

A coin has two sides.  Enough said.