Inhumane Recycling Disposal In California

Responsible companies who process electronic waste - commonly referred to as e-waste

- ensure that all of the rules are followed for the safety of their employees and for the benefit of the environment.

That's not always the case when e-waste is shipped overseas to countries which do not have regulatory mechanisms in place to protect the health and safety of workers. China is one such place, where profit is pushed ahead of any damage which may be done to human beings or the environment.

E-waste often contains recoverable materials such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, ferrous metals and plastics, which can all be extracted and sold as commodities. However, e-waste also has dangerous chemicals and byproducts that are created or released through the extraction process. In the US, there are strict regulations on how to handle these items, which significantly increases the costs for recyclers.

In countries like China, India and Ghana, they do not have regulatory bodies that enforce proper recycling methods (like the EPA) and therefore, the extraction process is often unregulated and done in a manner that puts profit before human health and the environment. Processes like burning plastics off of copper wire and using acid vats to remove unwanted residuals, are all commonly accepted. These processes are highly dangerous, and cause significant long term damage to the human respiratory and nervous systems.

The residuals and waste that processing creates can be so harmful, it can render entire towns unlivable. And if lead and other chemicals leach into the ground water, or nearby streams, it can potentially affect the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people.

Most people believe they are doing the right thing by recycling their e-waste through a recognized local recycler. But, what people don't know is what route the e-waste takes when it leaves their hands. It's important to vet your e-waste recyclersask them if they ship material overseas, or where their downstream material ends up.

If you're going to be responsible on the front end, expect those middlemen on the back end to be responsible, too. As one of the most famous modern day California governors once said nearly three decades ago, when dealing with countries which may have questionable motives, "trust, but verify."

GREENspot DROPoff not only pledges to conform to the strict guidelines of Federal and State regulatory agencies, but is taking it a step further by only working with R2 and e-Steward certified and pledged recyclers. This means that no e-waste is shipped to developing countries and no e-waste ends up in a landfill.

GREENspot is the largest e-waste collector in the State of California with hundreds of drop off locations open to the general public and has now expanded in to Texas. GREENspot has won numerous awards including Collection Program of the Year (IERCE) for their efforts to promote responsible e-waste recycling. GREENspot DROPoff's mission statement is to provide a free and convenient GREENspot within 5 miles of every household in America, while at the same time ensuring that the material is processed in a safe and responsible manner in compliance with all State and Federal regulations. More information is available on this web site by clicking here.

http://www.greenspotdropoff.org

by: Jarrod Meehan

POST COMMENT

What To Look For In Waterproof Cycling Clothing Latest Range Of Bicycles Available In India For A Lifetime Cycling Experience The Best Cannondale Bikes For Cycling Enthusiasts Reasons That Make Cycling To Work Advantageous For Employees How Professional Cycling Coaches Can Help You Copper Recycling Los Angeles A Cursory Glance At Its Benefits Metal Recycling In Los Angeles Why It Is Much In Vogue Recycled Art Is The Future Of Recycling Benefits Of Waste Handling & Recycling Why Chippers Are Essential To Recycling The Benefits Of A Recycling Center What Cycling Clothing Do You Need To Wear When Bmxing? Cardboard Balers & Plastic Waste Balers - Best Recycling Machinery - Recycling Cardboard