Some Notes About E-waste

Posted: May 6th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: waste industries | Tags: , | No Comments »

It is estimated that E-wastes are generated 20-50 million tonnes per year in the world (Greenpeace 2008). Nowadays, Because of the high tech, the life cycle of electronic equipment is shorter than before. The products update quickly. UNEP-Vital-Graphic (2004) reports that the computers have an average life span of only 2 years in developed countries. There are many problems in recycling and disposal of E-waste. Open burning of E-wastes is toxic because of hazardous and materials such as heavy metals and PVC which are harmful for environmental, animals and human health (Greenpeace 2008). The contamination of wastes has an impact on the surrounding soils. In China, Dumping and the open burning sites are still common.

As the research conducted by Greenpeace, the electronics products contain lead, Cadmium (can result in damage to the kidneys and bone toxicity), Antimony, Phthalates, PCBs, etc. UNEP-Vital-Graphics points out that there are about 23% plastic, 32% ferrous metals, 18% non-ferrous metals, 12% electronic boards and 15% glass in a computer. However, only about 50% of the computer can be recycled.

The regulation is necessary for controlling the environmental pollution. During designing and manufacturing, the use of hazardous chemicals should be avoided. Furthermore, although the imports of E-waste is banned, there are still a large amount of illegal E-wastes enter into China.

Greenpeace (2008) Chemical Contamination at E-waste Recycling and Disposal Sites in Accra and Korforidua, Ghana.

UNEP-Vital-Graphics (2004) Vital Waste Graphics. E-Waste: The Great E-waste Recycling Debate.


Interviews to Recycling Business in Ningbo

Posted: April 13th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: video, waste industries | Tags: , , | No Comments »

This video is the interview we did last week.

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The Junk Market in Haishu District

Posted: March 28th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: waste industries | Tags: , , | 1 Comment »

This junk market which is located in Haishu district (Zuguanshan Road No.111) is a member of the Chinese Association for Second-hand.dsc02624

Actually, most of the enterprises in this second-hand market are family businesses. If companies and individuals don’t know how to deal with the wastes, they can make a phone call to the recycling businesses. The recycling businesses will send an employee to give a door-to-door service and value the waste things. When they reach an agreement to the price, wastes will be purchased by the recycling businesses. Some discarded and old products such as televisions will be processed and repaired in order to resell.

junk market

junk market

This junk market is in the combination area of rural and urban, so the surrounding environment is not so good. The hygienic conditions are poor. Dwellers here live a suffering life.

junk market

According to the official statistics given by the Sanitation Department in 2008, there are around 1,740 enterprises which are engage in recycling renewable resources in Ningbo. More than 32,000 people are employed in recycling jobs.