Nov 28 - E-Waste Piles Up in Third World Countries
According to a Basel Action Network report , there are at least 100,000 computers a month entering the Nigerian port of Lagos with 25 to 75 percent of these computers, and other electronics, including TVs and phones, unusable. So in actuality, the country is getting tons of e-waste instead that end up being dumped or incinerated. Almost 120 countries are meeting now in a five day conference in Kenya to find answers towards fixing the growing global issue of hazardous wastes in developing countries. The BBC News reports.
The world's richest nations are dumping hazardous electronic waste on poor African countries, says the head of the UN's Environment Programme (Unep).Speaking in Nairobi, Achim Steiner said consumerism was driving a "growing mountain of e-waste".
Unep estimates that up to 50 million tonnes of waste from discarded electronic goods is generated annually.
Improper disposal of e-waste can release hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into the environment.
Mr. Steiner made his comments at the opening of a week-long conference in Nairobi which will review the Basel Convention, aimed at reducing the movement of all types of hazardous waste.
Learn more about the Basel Convention.
What You Can Do
- Learn more about California's e-waste issues.
- Find where to properly dispose of your unwanted e-waste.