The Scope of US E-Waste

theodp writes "Every day, Americans toss out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers, making electronic waste the fastest-growing part of the US garbage stream. A lot of the world's e-waste is exported to Guiyu, China, where peasants heat circuit boards over coal fires to recover lead (a 15" computer monitor can pack up to 7 lbs. of Pb), while others use acid to burn off bits of gold. Guiyu's willingness to deal with lead, mercury and other toxic materials generates $75 million a year for the village, but as a result. Guiyu is slowly poisoning itself with the highest level of cancer-causing dioxins in the world. The village experiences elevated rates of miscarriages, and its children suffer from an extremely high rate of lead poisoning. TIME suggests checking out recycling brokers and accredited e-stewards the next time you're ready to toss a gizmo."

Comments

It is just WASTE. Fuck the E!

[line-bundle]

What's wrong with you people?

Re:It is just WASTE. Fuck the E!

[nurb432]

What's wrong with you people?

I suppose its better the iWaste

now it all makes sense.

[sheehaje]

This lead is then formed into figurines, painted, and sold as toys.

Re:You should see my basement

[Anonymous Coward]

Throw it in the trash if you're worried about it ending up overseas. Keep it American!

Self-fixing problem

[marco.antonio.costa]

Soon the dollar won't buy anything, let alone electronics. I wouldn't worry about it.

Re:7 pounds is complete BS

[The J Kid]

I am so sorry. Never knew e-waste was such a problem.

I'll never throw out a pdf again!

How about an artificial reef?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Let's just pick an appropriate spot in the worlds oceans, and build one of these with the E-Waste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_reef

Divers would love to see baby Moray eels popping out of the slot in old VCRs.

I wouldn't worry about the hazardous material being toxic. Many of the oceans' species are millions of years old, they know how to deal with toxic waste.

Probably.