Children backyard recycling are exposed to toxic substances
By Ken Manchen, Corporate Director, Safety, Health & Environmental Affairs, Newark & Premier Farnell
 "We still need effective, enforceable federal e-waste rules in both the US and Canada to ensure our e-waste stops being sent to developing countries, where it is typically being crudely handled in a manner that we would never allow here." |
That may sound like a provocative title, and frankly, that is intentional on my part. Because I want to get your attention about a common practice you may know little about: the US export of electronic waste into developing countries, and its consequences on children and the environment.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is estimated that 50 percent of all US e-waste is “dumped” into India, China and African countries, where it is a common practice for children (and some adults) to make money “backyard recycling” scrap electronic products. Unprotected workers heat the products over open fires to remove reusable components.
They soak what remains in acid baths to extract reclaimable metals. In the process, these “backyard recyclers” are exposed to a variety of toxic substances. Inhaling, or regular handling, can result in damage to the brain nervous system, lungs and kidneys, or may cause cancer.
Dr. Thuppil Venkatesh, advisor to the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India, states that “53 percent of the children under 12 in Bangalore have levels of lead in their blood that is causing brain damage and restricting their ability to learn.”
The majority of western countries have enacted rules to prevent the improper disposal of e-waste. There is even an international treaty (the Basel Convention) that bans trans-border shipments, but there is strong evidence that the ban is easily circumvented as it doesn’t apply to exports designated as “usable material". It only applies to waste. Neither the US nor Canada has yet endorsed the Basel Convention.
There is some good news in North America. At least twelve states and five provinces have recognized the seriousness of the problem and decided not to wait for the federal government to act. They have gone ahead and enacted laws requiring the proper disposal of end-of-life electronic products.
In addition, responsible manufacturers like Sony, Samsung and Nokia have introduced their own product take-back schemes to ensure proper end-of-life recycling of the products they sell.
While all this is gratifying to see, we still need effective, enforceable federal e-waste rules in both the US and Canada. Such rules are the only way to ensure our e-waste stops being sent to developing countries, where it is typically being crudely handled in a manner that we would never allow here.
Premier Farnell, working with Dr. Venkatesh and his Centre in India, is sponsoring projects to help raise awareness levels around the dangers of hazardous substances.
We are supporting the training of 100 teachers in India, who will become potential leaders or Lead-Educators. In turn, each teacher will be required to conduct a minimum of 5 seminars addressing 100 students per program. In all, around 50,000 students will be reached.