So I came across this article earlier and figured I’d share it with everyone. We spend a lot of time in class talking about new technology and it affects us in the first world. This article takes a look at the opposite end of the spectrum – how our old technology affects people in the developing world.
As I understand it, programs were set up in the last two decades or so that aimed to bridge the technological gap between modern and developing nations by donating our used electronics to developing nations. This worked (somewhat) well for a while, but e-waste recycling companies are now exploiting a loophole in the system. In the name of donating electronics, these companies are actually creating make-shift landfills and dumping enormous amounts of electronic waste. The article focuses specifically on Agbogbloshie, an illegal dump site outside in Ghana. Here’s an excerpt from the article about how the dump site is affecting the community:
“Agbogbloshie has become one of the world's foremost "digital dumping grounds." It's a major destination for the developed world's electronic waste, processing millions of tons of unwanted electronics every year.
“Most of this "processing" work is performed by young men and children who burn electronics to extract the valuable copper that they contain for pennies on the dollar. A "good haul" reportedly earns workers less than $4 a day, while releasing hordes of toxic chemicals into the environment. This deadly chemical cocktail poisons the surrounding land, air, water, and workers—stunting their mental and physical development.”
To make matters worse, there is an international treaty – the Basel Convention — specifically banning the international transfer of toxic waste, but the U.S. refuses to ratify it. Firms in the UK and Japan have found ways to work around the treaty.
I’m interested to know what you all think about:
A. Why the US refuses to ratify the treaty. I get that it is cheaper for recycling companies to dump this waste abroad rather than process it here, but surely we could change our laws to address that problem. We don't seem to want to.
B. If we, as first world consumers of technology, are responsible for any of this by not knowing or, more importantly, not caring, about what happens to our technology once we’re done with it.