Where Does Your E-Waste Go?
This short documentary identifies how e-waste is handled by workers in India. Circuit boards are melted over open burners and copper cables are cleaned in vats of acid while workers handle the toxic materials without any protective gloves or masks. Piles of PVC wiring are burned in public fields while nearby children play under the noxious fumes.
It’s proven that exposure to such materials causes devastating affects on the workers’ health. Heavy metals like Lead and Mercury affect the nervous system and are especially dangerous to children. Cadmium affects kidneys, while other organic chemical byproducts can affect hormones and the neurological system.
Piles of e-waste are sent to India because the reclamation costs are so low there. While recycling a computer in the United States or Europe costs around $20, the same process in India costs only a couple dollars. Low labor costs and high profit margins in India attract hazardous materials from around the world. However, the enormous cost savings is tragically jeopardizing the health of those handling the materials.
This video demonstrates why such reclamation processes need to be better regulated. Here at eCycleGroup, our products are processed domestically by reputable companies dedicated to high-quality re-fabrication procedures. We create merchandise that is comparable with original equipment while keeping e-waste out of landfills. (please click the MORE link to watch the video).
Creative commons circuit board photo by alvimann at morguefile.com. Watch the video directly at YouTube.com
You can reduce your impact on the environment by recycling your used printer cartridges & cell phones
You can keep these toxic materials out of the environment by giving your used printer cartridges and cell phones a second life as remanufactured products. What you may not realize is that your inkjets, toners, and cell phones are worth more than you think. Why not recycle them at eCycleGroup.com?
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