Transboundary pollution “E-WASTE”

Over past few decades -> shift in global manufacturing from Core to periphery countries. Why? TNCS rationalize moving overseas as maximizing efficiency. Reasons include: Raw materials – locating close to resources (manufacturing) save on costs Labour – cheaper, unskilled labour in countries with low wage, high population New tech – new company may move to ‘hotspot’ where other companies are, to share knowledge, labour, and machinery Government policy – more relaxed in some areas than others, offers incentives

This Rationalization is true of all business. The ‘shrinking world,’ time-space convergence and ease of financial flows have allowed businesses to relocate, to become truly TRANS-national… this has maximized efficiency, with each country or region producing to their economic advantage. HOWEVER this may not be to their environmental advantage!

OUR EXAMPLE: E-Waste Electronic Waste: used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered e-waste…. Every day Americans throw out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers, making electronic waste the fastest-growing part of the U.S. garbage stream… luckily many people RECYCLE electronics for the gold, silver, copper, aluminum, platinum, palladium, etc… WHERE DOES IT GO? WHAT DOES IT DO THERE?

Toxic Components Some of the toxic components common in e-waste are: Lead Mercury Flame retardants (such as brominated flame retardants and PBDEs) Cadmium Beryllium Bisphenol-A (BPA) Although we’re safe from these toxic components while using electronics, once discarded and opened up for disassembly, they can pose a serious health threat to recycling workers all around the world.

BASEL CONVENTION: Regulates FREE TRADE in hazardous materials (e-waste) After a slew of toxic trade disasters in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the international community rallied together to reject the free trade of hazardous materials. The United Nations international community created the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal in 1989. Combating unrestricted toxic trade, the treaty promotes national self- sufficiency in waste management. USA is the only industrialized country NOT to ratify agreement