The Entrepreneur's Guide to Computer Recycling - e-Waste. This ...

Volume 1: Basics for starting up a computer recycling businessc h a p t e r 3SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTALCHALLENGESGenerally speaking, equipment dismantling and refurbishment activities,pose little or no threat to human health or the environment when they arecarried out properly, taking into account all human health and environmentalrequirements. PCs and other ICT equipment do contain minimalamounts of potentially harmful substances (e.g. lead, cadmium, beryllium),but they are in solid, non-dispersible forms, and thus pose no concern forhuman exposure or environmental release in ordinary use or handling ofwhole equipment. Activities relating to handling, including manual disassemblyand most repair, refurbishment or upgrade activity can thus oftenbe safely undertaken by workers in developing countries, provided theyare carefully monitored and safeguards are in place. However, currently inmost developing countries such activities are carried out by the informalsector without regard to safety and environmental concerns. Therefore,there is an urgent need to improve existing conditions before imports ofWEEE to these countries are initiated.AINTRODUCTION | SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGESFormal versus informal recycling practicesCertain recycling processes, including shredding, grinding, burning andmelting of components, may release harmful fumes or dust that, whenemitted or leached into the soil, can have harmful health and environmentalimpacts. In many developing countries, an informal network of wasteprocessors employs techniques such as open burning, without adequatesafety protocols necessary to protect workers’ health. Moreover, recyclingis often done at or near waste dumps which are not equipped to preventharmful leaching into soil and groundwater. By definition, the “informal”network of waste processors is not regulated, and so it has proven to bedifficult for many countries to monitor harmful practices and implementcontrols to protect workers’ health and the environment.9