Computer manufacturers must take responsibility for dealing with electronic waste to ensure toxic trash doesn’t fall into the wrong hands
Dell, the world’s second largest PC manufacturer, announced earlier this month that it is imposing a ban on the export of used equipment bearing its name to developing countries ? unless the equipment is in full working order and intended for legitimate use.
The idea is to undermine the huge trade in e-waste, too much of which ends up in giant trash piles in Africa, India and China, from where it is dismantled, burned, treated with corrosive chemicals and otherwise persuaded to give up tiny amounts of chemicals that can be sold on. The big question is why all the other manufacturers don’t have a similar policy.
The cost of safe disposal/recycling of any electronic equipment (or anything else in fact) should be added to the price of the item when it’s purchased. Then the manufacturer (wherever they are) should be legally responsible for having it disposed of within the country in which it was used. If people can metaphorically chuck their rubbish in someone else’s garden, they’ll pay less attention to the consequences of their purchases. If it’s not practical for a foreign manufacturer to ensure safe disposal in the location of the item’s use, then this duty should pass to the local retailer with due exchange of the cost.
E Waste Recycling