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Eco-warriors use GPS tracking to hinder Hong Kong trade re-cycling e-waste
AMERICAN eco-activists have warned they will be making regular use of GPS tracker to see if there is any wrong-doing in the disposal of electronic waste.
By using geo-locating trackers, the Basel Action Network (BAN) was able to determine that US e-waste is being sent to Hong Kong's New Territories.
"There, BAN's investigators found that the electronic waste is crudely smashed apart, exposing both the environment and unsuspecting workers to mercury, toner dust and other hazards.
"It is far too easy for recyclers to ship e-waste to developing countries in contravention of international law," said Sarah Westervelt, policy director of the e -Stewards programme.
Ms Westervelt cited no law. What the Shipping Gazette found was a UN pact calling on parties to cooperate on sharing information to set standards and increase awareness of how electronic waste should be managed.
BAN is targetting the performance of Certified e-Stewards Recyclers, which itself is the creation of BAN, which has long sought to end the trade in electronic waste that does not meet their standards.
It was created after the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) scheme to create a rule failed to pass.
BAN said its use of GPS trackers, found that 40 per cent of the "toxic monitors and printers it delivered to US electronics recyclers were exported mostly to developing countries instead of being recycled in the US"
By using geo-locating trackers, the Basel Action Network (BAN) was able to determine that US e-waste is being sent to Hong Kong's New Territories.
"There, BAN's investigators found that the electronic waste is crudely smashed apart, exposing both the environment and unsuspecting workers to mercury, toner dust and other hazards.
"It is far too easy for recyclers to ship e-waste to developing countries in contravention of international law," said Sarah Westervelt, policy director of the e -Stewards programme.
Ms Westervelt cited no law. What the Shipping Gazette found was a UN pact calling on parties to cooperate on sharing information to set standards and increase awareness of how electronic waste should be managed.
BAN is targetting the performance of Certified e-Stewards Recyclers, which itself is the creation of BAN, which has long sought to end the trade in electronic waste that does not meet their standards.
It was created after the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) scheme to create a rule failed to pass.
BAN said its use of GPS trackers, found that 40 per cent of the "toxic monitors and printers it delivered to US electronics recyclers were exported mostly to developing countries instead of being recycled in the US"
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