E-waste

2008-11-22 05:31:38

#1

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7114|Nårvei

I just watched an episode of 60 minutes where the main issue was the dumping of used CRT tubes in the far east and that people in China are dying while dismantling old computers, CRT screens, cellphones etc etc.

In the US alone 130K computers is thrown away each day and 100 million cellphones each year (i only have the US numbers from 60 minutes but i bet many other countries are doing the exact same thing)

It's illegal to export this equipment but still at least 42 companies in the US does it or are willing to do it, in China people making $8 a day live in the most polluted city on earth.

I have always regarded 60 minutes to be a fairly good program with credible journalism and of course i don't trust them blindly ... i have heard about this story before but the episode i watched today was the first that portrayed the living conditions for the Chinese workers and the tracing of a container used to ship the content of CRTs to Hong Kong from a US company.

Link to the CBS 60 minutes webpage about the program i watched

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2008-11-22 05:57:33

#2

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,817|6410|eXtreme to the maX

Its not just CRTs.
Junk supposedly 'recycled' in the US and EU typically just gets shipped to China.
The are whole towns buried under mountains of plastic bags they are trying to sort through.

Fuck Israel

2008-11-22 09:31:24

#3

Stingray24: Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy; +1,060|6750|The Land of Scott Walker

Almost 47.5 million PCs thrown away every year doesn't sound accurate at all.

2008-11-22 09:37:40

#4

M.O.A.B: 'Light 'em up!'; +1,220|6527|Escea

There was a thing about this happening in Africa and India as well.

2008-11-22 09:39:16

#5

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6853|San Diego, CA, USA

You can ship "old computers" to emerging markets as a donation...but it seems that those old 1.6GB hard drives and 486's don't last that long afterward.

2008-11-22 09:45:10

#6

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7114|Nårvei

Stingray24 wrote:
Almost 47.5 million PCs thrown away every year doesn't sound accurate at all.

Sounds like a lot yes, will have to double check that number but i'm pretty sure he said 130.000 PCs each day.

Edit: Updated the OP with a link to the CBS 60 minutes and it clearly says 130.000 units

Harmor wrote:
You can ship "old computers" to emerging markets as a donation...but it seems that those old 1.6GB hard drives and 486's don't last that long afterward.

I'm aware of such "donations" but the case raised in this program was just about electronic garbage and not useful stuff so the amount of stuff getting shipped out of the country is prolly much larger ...

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2008-11-22 11:36:51

#7

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

Don't blame us. Blame the governments of these countries for allowing us to dump on their land. The governments of China, India, and in much of Africa don't give a shit about their people much. That's why they allow this to happen.

It's not right for us to exploit them, but at the same time, we wouldn't be able to if these governments cared.

2008-11-22 13:50:59

#8

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7114|Nårvei

Turquoise wrote:
Don't blame us. Blame the governments of these countries for allowing us to dump on their land. The governments of China, India, and in much of Africa don't give a shit about their people much. That's why they allow this to happen.

It's not right for us to exploit them, but at the same time, we wouldn't be able to if these governments cared.

It's actually illegal for the countries in question to import the stuff so the system fails in both ends, not just the receiving country ... the container that was followed in 60 minutes did actually get x-ray in Hong Kong customs and returned to the US company ... but i can imagine it went straight back within a week ...

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2008-11-22 14:53:29

#9

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6758|The Twilight Zone

How exactly are people dying while dismantling old computers, CRT screens, cellphones etc etc.?

https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

2008-11-22 16:45:56

#10

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

.Sup wrote:
How exactly are people dying while dismantling old computers, CRT screens, cellphones etc etc.?

Lead poisoning and poisoning from various other components. There are actually a number of lethal substances contained in electronic devices like CRTs.

2008-11-22 16:47:11

#11

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

Varegg wrote:
Turquoise wrote:
Don't blame us. Blame the governments of these countries for allowing us to dump on their land. The governments of China, India, and in much of Africa don't give a shit about their people much. That's why they allow this to happen.

It's not right for us to exploit them, but at the same time, we wouldn't be able to if these governments cared.
It's actually illegal for the countries in question to import the stuff so the system fails in both ends, not just the receiving country ... the container that was followed in 60 minutes did actually get x-ray in Hong Kong customs and returned to the US company ... but i can imagine it went straight back within a week ...

Good points, but I'm sure there are plenty of cases where this dumping is legal. It's not like China is known for its regulation of industrial waste.

2008-11-22 16:52:06

#12

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6457|what

M.O.A.B wrote:
There was a thing about this happening in Africa and India as well.

I know for a fact in Africa they go through the huge dumps of computers\printers\old cell phones and try to take any scrap metal that might be worth something to make a living.

They wade through toxic waste and highly corrosive chemicals to find lead and aluminium, they'll often burn plastic cases and pick through the remains for the metals. Burning these plastics also releases the toxins into the air which they inevitably breath in.

https://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/business/gallery/2008/may/06/computer.waste/burning_e-waste-8051.jpg

https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/pictures/2008/05/06/xxe-waste_bridge476.jpg

^Those are monitors he's standing on.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/gall … =333898276

2008-11-22 16:54:35

#13

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

I can't help but think of the ghouls from Fallout 3 when I look at those 2 pics above....

2008-11-22 16:55:52

#14

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6457|what

Turquoise wrote:
I can't help but think of the ghouls from Fallout 3 when I look at those 2 pics above....

Oh, sorry.

https://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/business/gallery/2008/may/06/computer.waste/e-waste_kids2-6661.jpg

Better?

2008-11-22 16:59:28

#15

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

I bet there must be a shitload of birth defects that result from this stuff.

2008-11-22 17:27:56

#16

usmarine: Banned; +2,785|7066

yay for recycling. good job green weenies. see what you did?

2008-11-22 17:43:32

#17

usmarine: Banned; +2,785|7066

"thats not recycling you douche "

from my karma...unsigned.

well, douche. if you actually saw the 60 minutes story, they followed e-waste from denver. and guess where they got all the e-waste from?

oh thats right, a recycling drive.

so go fist yourself random douche nozzle.

2008-11-22 17:52:52

#18

Catbox: forgiveness; +505|7021

the old computers and their disposal was not well thought out...
recycling is not that effective in reality(makes people feel good though)... they say it costs more money to recycle plastic than make new plastic containers...
China is a pollution nightmare... my cousin was over there studying and she said if China doesn't clean itself up...
It won't matter what the rest of the world does to be clean...

Love is the answer

2008-11-22 18:10:36

#19

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

usmarine wrote:
"thats not recycling you douche "

from my karma...unsigned.

well, douche. if you actually saw the 60 minutes story, they followed e-waste from denver. and guess where they got all the e-waste from?

oh thats right, a recycling drive.

so go fist yourself random douche nozzle.

I suppose a good way to make recycling actually be good for the environment would be to require that all recycling be done here.

2008-11-22 18:12:24

#20

usmarine: Banned; +2,785|7066

Turquoise wrote:
I suppose a good way to make recycling actually be good for the environment would be to require that all recycling be done here.

yes but people have "nimby" issues.....

2008-11-22 18:15:08

#21

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

usmarine wrote:
Turquoise wrote:
I suppose a good way to make recycling actually be good for the environment would be to require that all recycling be done here.
yes but people have "nimby" issues.....

Well yeah, but that's par for the course. Environmentalists are no more or no less nimby than anyone else.

2008-11-22 18:23:06

#22

Stingray24: Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy; +1,060|6750|The Land of Scott Walker

Varegg wrote:
Stingray24 wrote:
Almost 47.5 million PCs thrown away every year doesn't sound accurate at all.
Sounds like a lot yes, will have to double check that number but i'm pretty sure he said 130.000 PCs each day.

Edit: Updated the OP with a link to the CBS 60 minutes and it clearly says 130.000 units

I'm not doubting you, Varegg. Just trying to work out where the heck all those PCs are coming from.

2008-11-22 18:44:10

#23

usmarine: Banned; +2,785|7066

Turquoise wrote:
Environmentalists are no more or no less nimby than anyone else.

bullshit. cant use half the land because of green laws and such.

2008-11-22 19:15:45

#24

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6710|North Carolina

usmarine wrote:
Turquoise wrote:
Environmentalists are no more or no less nimby than anyone else.
bullshit. cant use half the land because of green laws and such.

Well, give me an example, and maybe I can help explain why a certain law is in place.

2008-11-23 03:02:44

#25

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7114|Nårvei

Stingray24 wrote:
Varegg wrote:
Stingray24 wrote:
Almost 47.5 million PCs thrown away every year doesn't sound accurate at all.
Sounds like a lot yes, will have to double check that number but i'm pretty sure he said 130.000 PCs each day.

Edit: Updated the OP with a link to the CBS 60 minutes and it clearly says 130.000 units
I'm not doubting you, Varegg. Just trying to work out where the heck all those PCs are coming from.

Seeing as many people have access to atleast 3 computers, 1 at the office, 1 workstation at home and a laptop i guess the numbers are huge in total ... one reason for the fast phasing out could be that prebuild cheap computers doesn't last as long as the consumer would like.

And marine, that drive in Denver where they collected all that stuff happens many places in every state ... it's all about making money for those holding the events, they advertise infront claiming the e-waste will never reach a third world country but still they do just that ... that is not how the public expects recycling to be, they are conned by a greedy son of a bitch ...

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

BF2S Forums E-waste

Stingray24 wrote:

Harmor wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Varegg wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

M.O.A.B wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

usmarine wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

usmarine wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

Varegg wrote:

Stingray24 wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

usmarine wrote:

Turquoise wrote:

Stingray24 wrote:

Varegg wrote:

Stingray24 wrote:

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