Hazardous wastes and their disposal to poor countries….A Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in Ghana (RoHS)
Following on from my previous blog post on knowing ‘what items can be recycled and reducing waste ‘, Rien Dijkstra shared some information with me on what could possibly happen to equipment which people want donated to charities. Rien is one of the authors of the Greening IT book – so a big thanks for helping to raise more Green IT awareness Rien!
‘The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, agreed to in 1989 and now adopted by a majority of nations, was meant to stop the dumping of toxic waste in poor countries. But rules get complicated when the waste arrives as a gift. ‘
Click here to view the pictures on the website link sent to me – ‘A global graveyard for dead computers in Ghana’.
One of the slides shown on Greenpeace’s findings, list a number of toxic substances found in the computers. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) restricts the use of six hazardhous materials in the manufacture of electrical equipment. These are lead, cadium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ether. A few possible symptons which affect human health for each are listed below. This is why it is very important to make sure equipment no longer needed is recycled or reused, and to also ensure it is disposed of legally….. the right way.
1. Lead - anemia, slow development in children
2. Cadmium - kidney problems, general weakness
3. Mercury – brain damage, chest pain
4. Hexavalent chromium – asthma attacks, liver damage
5. Polybrominated biphenyls – skin problems, liver problems
6. Polybrominated diphenyl – abdominal pain, thyroid disruption
DATE: 19/08/2010
Tripta Prashar
www.givingtimeandsolutions.com
