China

IV: Here and Now

Part 3: Environmental Issues in China: Electronic Waste Recycling and Toxic Exports

Introduction:
While China's economy is growing at an incredible rate, there are still many people living in poverty. One way that some of these people have found to make a living is harvesting resellable metals from electronic waste imported from other countries, especially the United States. Old computers, televisions, cell phones and other discarded products are full of metals such as copper, lead, gold, silver and others, but they are also full of toxic materials such as mercury and various carcinogens. When people melt down e-waste, they inhale a variety of toxic materials, and when they dispose of what is left over, they often contaminate their water and food supplies. This is also an issue in other developing nations, such as a number of countries in Africa.

A worldwide treaty banning the export of toxic waste has done much to stem this problem, but the United States still has not ratified the treaty and is probably the largest exporter of toxic e-waste. Many companies claiming to recycle electronics actually simply ship them overseas, contaminating land and water and potentially poisoning people. There are responsible recyclers, however, who properly dispose of toxic materials. There are also organizations that will fix electronics that can be re-used, then distribute them to people who need them.

Overview:
This is not a lesson plan, per se. Instead, this is a chance for students to take concrete steps toward alleviating a serious global issue. Teachers will use the resources gathered below to educate students about the problem of e-waste around the world. Students will use this information to form a plan of action with the goal of making sure that all electronics disposal in their school or town is done in as responsible and ecologically responsible a manner as possible.

This would be appropriate for student environmental clubs. Additionally, this would be an opportunity to cooperate with outside organizations, such as scouts, church groups, school board, etc.

Procedure:
Teachers and students should read and discuss some of the materials listed below in the resources section. The National Geographic feature is an excellent place to start, though it is not focused solely on China. The Basel Action Network has a number of articles and reports that focus specifically on China, and they produced a documentary called "Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia" which is about the e-waste problem in China. To be fair, China is apparently making efforts to block the importation of toxic e-waste. Unfortunately, this means that the exports go instead to other countries with less stringent laws.

Discussion can include topics such as economics, health issues, international politics, chemistry, electronics design, and more. Thus, this issue is relevant in many different subject areas.

Students can be asked to do further research in preparation for taking action.

Possible activities include the following:

• Ask students to inventory the electronic items in their homes. Everything electronic should be listed, including televisions, computers, computer monitors, printers, radios, personal music players, etc. The next day, combine the individual inventories into a class inventory. This will dramatically show how much potential waste there is. A further step is to measure such characteristics as the size and weight of the inventoried items, and possibly even to determine what materials they are made of. Math skills can be employed in totalling weights and volumes.
• Ask students to inventory the electronics in the school.
• Organize a school-wide (or community-wide) electronics recycling drive. Most homes probably have numerous items needing disposal. Not knowing what to do with them, many people end up simply storing them in basements and garages indefinitely. Schools and other large users of electronics also often store discarded items. Students would use the resources below to locate a responsible recycler in their area and set up a time (or times) for collection. The drive could be advertised in school publications and local media. Local companies and media outlets could be asked to sponsor this project with such necessities as storage and transportation, advertising, costs, etc. Governmental bodies, hospitals, businesses and other users of electronics could be invited to take part. Advertising before the event, and perhaps materials handed out at the event, should educate community members about the e-waste problem.
• After researching the e-waste issue, students could prepare a presentation which they would present to the school administrators, the local school board, local business organizations, local hospitals, town or county government, etc. In the presentation, students should explain what e-waste is, why it is a problem, and what can be done about it, and should encourage the formulation of responsible electronics recycling policies. They could also talk about responsible purchasing, such as choosing products made by companies that will take them back for recycling at the end of their useful life.
• Students will almost certainly have more ideas of their own.
• There are many grants available for teachers and schools undertaking environmental activities. Some are VERY generous. Also, activities like these are great ways for schools to generate positive relations with the community and good PR.

Resources:
National Geographic has a feature story titled "High Tech Trash" with photos and interactive extras, on the topic of e-waste.

"Toxic 'E-Waste' Gets Cached in Poor Nations, Report Says" is another National Geographic story, from 2005, states the problem succinctly.

"Environmentalists Teach Dos and Don'ts of E-Waste," a January 2008 story on National Public Radio explains how to avoid adding to the e-waste problem

"Research Identifies U.S. Electronic Waste as Likely Source of Toxic Jewelry Imports from China: Exported Waste Computers and Old Car Batteries May Come Back to Poison our Children" describes research done be chemistry students in Ohio, and the issue of toxic children's products. (See also the links at the bottom of the page, leading to PDFs of the published article in a scientific journal.)

The Environment Report (a radio show produced by the Great Lakes Radio Consortium in Michigan) covered this story in August, 2007. "Detecting Lead in Toys" is available as audio or text.

A June 2007, Environment Report story on e-waste in China, with slideshow, audio and text:

"Panning E-Waste for Gold" is a good source of background on the issue of e-waste (New York Times , May, 2006)

This 2002 radio report from NPR discusses the issues and has some good links, as well as a slideshow

"Toxic Trade: The Real Cost of Electronics Waste Exports from the United States" is a good background essay from the World Resources Institute (can also be downloaded as a PDF file).

The Basel Action Network is a great source for all sorts of information regarding e-waste and other toxic waste, the export of such waste to developing countries, responsible recycling, and more.

The Web site of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, an international treaty.

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition provides a wealth of information about recycling (and the problems of not recycling) electronic waste, as well as links to recyclers that properly handle such waste. This is an excellent site for students who are working on this issue in their community. There is even information available for student-led campaigns to combat toxic waste from electronics.

The Electronics Take Back Coalition has more information about properly recycling electronic waste, including listings of recyclers all over the United States who do it properly.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)