US donates 'useless' computers

2005-10-25 13:39

Seattle - Most computers recycled in the US and Europe for use in developing countries are useless and end up in landfills, causing huge environmental damage, says an environmental group on Monday.

The report, titled "The Digital Dump: Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa," charged that US recycling firms donated useless equipment to developing nations as a way to dodge the expense of having to recycle it properly.

The report by the Basel Action Network (BAN) focused on Lagos, Nigeria, but speculated similar situations flourished throughout much of the developing world, where a "tsunami of toxic techno-trash is making its way from rich to poorer countries".

Enormous environmental damage

The report said the computers, phones, televisions and other high tech equipment that were touted as tools to bridge the digital divide were actually a "cyber-age nightmare".

The Seattle-based organisation said most were broken or hopelessly obsolete and caused enormous environmental damage in countries, which had little or no effective systems of dealing with the toxic waste contained in the devices.

The study's focus on Lagos showed that even with a vibrant technology re-use sector and a thriving entrepreneurial class, only 25% of the 500 12m shipping containers that arrived there each month loaded with old equipment were put to new use.

Hazardous waste

The report said: "As much as 75% of the imports are 'junk' and are not economically repairable or marketable.

"Consequently, this e-waste, which is legally a hazardous waste is being discarded and routinely burned...in a cyber-age nightmare."

Jim Puckett of BAN said: "Re-use is a good thing, bridging the digital divide is a good thing, but exporting loads of technotrash in the name of these lofty ideals and seriously damaging the environment and health of poor communities in developing countries is criminal."

Puckett said: "Things are completely out of control. Manufacturers have got to get toxic chemicals out of electronic goods.

"The governments have got to start enforcing international law, and we consumers have got to be a lot more careful about what our local 'recycler' is really doing."

- SAPA