Welcome to the Students against dumping electronics Wiki Site! This site was created to try to inform you and everyone you know about this enormous problem called "ewaste". Some more informational and educational sites are out there and you should check them out. One is www.Ban.org and another is www.goodmagazine.com.
-What is Ewaste you might ask? Ewaste is what consists of your old cellphone, computer, t.v and evenyour batteries. What we do with all these used products (that may not even need to be thrown away) and supposedly "recycle" them, which most companies say they do. Well, what happens when these products supposedly get recycled? Since there is nothing in place for people to recycle EVERY single ingredient in these electronics we have to ship them overseas to developing countries (that pretty much don't know any better).

Why is this bad you say?
Because ONE computer can contain up to 5 pounds of LEAD (which has enough poison in it to kill me 80 times over, OR MORE!) and many other toxins such as Mercury. We take these computers etc. and get what we want from them and when the receivers of these electronics get them, they are putting themselves at very huge risks.


What happens?
They take apart the computers (which in itself is hazardous if not wearing the proper gear, which of course none of these people do) and divide the parts to things they can use. In the process, having to burn some of these products which exposes them and their families to toxins and if that isn't enough, pollutes our environment even more. And all the products they don't know what to do with that isn't burned gets left out all over their streets and in their water. It's become such a problem that one city in Asia cannot even drink their own water, they have to have it shipped from another city. The lake is surrounded by computer and electronic parts which are leaking into the lake and causing even more pollution. This lake is where they clean their vegetables, clothes and even themselves.
I could go on forever about the dangers of ewaste but I'll leave the rest up for you to research. It is a growing problem that everyone should be aware of, and that is the purpose of our club (SADE).
One question to leave you with, if this isn't such a huge problem that I say it is, than why has every other country in the United Nations addressed and are finding solutions to this problem, besides the United States? Think about it.


Hint:MONEY


Please watch these two very short and very informative videos below:






























This video is just a highlight of a documentary/
informative movie
done by the group BAN. Sarah Westervelt the toxic research analyst came and gave us a presentation at Cascadia in the month of January. To learn more about her and this organization go to www.ban.org