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Environmental Activists Expose Dangers of E-Waste
Erin Lapham—19 November 2008
November 142008DelhiIndia: In the streets of Mustaffabada poor
quarter of Delhichildren in sandals sit on top of piles of broken
glass and twisted metalsmashing computer monitors. Men with
blowtorches melt circuit boardswhile nearbywomen sort and scrub
other boards with diluted acid. Charred fiberglass and copper dust
litter the ground.
This is the world of the electronic waste (e-waste) recyclerswho make a living by tearing apart the toxic remains of old home computerscell phones and printer cartridges from the United States and other countries. India imported about 50,000 tons of e-waste last yearand e-waste employs about 25,000 people in Delhi.
Chintan Environmental Research and Action Groupan Advocacy Project (AP) partner based in Delhiis working to organize the recyclers and lobby the Indian government for better safety regulations.
The group recently linked up with the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC)a California environmental groupto profile the e-waste recyclers through a documentary film and improve their working conditions. The film is titled "Citizens at Risk: How Electronic Waste is Poisoning the Path Out of Poverty for India's Recyclers," and premieres at SVTC's 2008 Benefit on November 15 in San Jose, California.
"The usual story told about e-waste is... it's toxic," said Chintan Director Bharati Chaturvedi. "There's no mention of the people involved. There are not conversations about these human beings."
The film was directed and produced by Ms Chaturvedi and Arjun Bhagat of Chintan. They plan to use the film for advocacy in Indiaand will urge companies to improve their handling of e-waste.
About 95 percent of all e-waste in Delhi is handled by the informal sectorwhere recyclers work without safety equipment. This exposes them to leadmercurycadmiumdioxinsbromonated flame retardants and other harmful chemicals. Chintan and SVTC want computer companies to start making less toxic productsbut to also take responsibility for how those products are dealt with once discarded.
"I hope the manufacturers will remove all toxics from their products," said Sheila DavisExecutive Director of SVTC. "Somedaye-waste recycling will switch from being a hazardous job to a green job: not only in the USbut all over the world."
As a startChintan is bringing e-waste recyclers together so that they can enter into negotiations and apply for business loans. The group hopes to develop a business model where waste can be handled in a safe, responsible manner that avoids child labor and provides a livelihood for Delhi's poorest citizens. Chintan will also petition the government for regulations that reduce the impact of e-waste on workers and the environment.
Consumers who buy computers will play a key role in helping the campaign achieve its goals: "(They) have a bigger voice in environmental justice than they realize," Ms Chaturvedi said.
Ms Chaturvedi urged consumers to write to computer manufacturersask where the remains of their computers are goingand encourage them to recycle responsibly. She said that the aim is not to take away these jobsbut to raise standards and improve working conditions for those already dealing with the world's e-waste.
This is the world of the electronic waste (e-waste) recyclerswho make a living by tearing apart the toxic remains of old home computerscell phones and printer cartridges from the United States and other countries. India imported about 50,000 tons of e-waste last yearand e-waste employs about 25,000 people in Delhi.
Chintan Environmental Research and Action Groupan Advocacy Project (AP) partner based in Delhiis working to organize the recyclers and lobby the Indian government for better safety regulations.
The group recently linked up with the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC)a California environmental groupto profile the e-waste recyclers through a documentary film and improve their working conditions. The film is titled "Citizens at Risk: How Electronic Waste is Poisoning the Path Out of Poverty for India's Recyclers," and premieres at SVTC's 2008 Benefit on November 15 in San Jose, California.
"The usual story told about e-waste is... it's toxic," said Chintan Director Bharati Chaturvedi. "There's no mention of the people involved. There are not conversations about these human beings."
The film was directed and produced by Ms Chaturvedi and Arjun Bhagat of Chintan. They plan to use the film for advocacy in Indiaand will urge companies to improve their handling of e-waste.
About 95 percent of all e-waste in Delhi is handled by the informal sectorwhere recyclers work without safety equipment. This exposes them to leadmercurycadmiumdioxinsbromonated flame retardants and other harmful chemicals. Chintan and SVTC want computer companies to start making less toxic productsbut to also take responsibility for how those products are dealt with once discarded.
"I hope the manufacturers will remove all toxics from their products," said Sheila DavisExecutive Director of SVTC. "Somedaye-waste recycling will switch from being a hazardous job to a green job: not only in the USbut all over the world."
As a startChintan is bringing e-waste recyclers together so that they can enter into negotiations and apply for business loans. The group hopes to develop a business model where waste can be handled in a safe, responsible manner that avoids child labor and provides a livelihood for Delhi's poorest citizens. Chintan will also petition the government for regulations that reduce the impact of e-waste on workers and the environment.
Consumers who buy computers will play a key role in helping the campaign achieve its goals: "(They) have a bigger voice in environmental justice than they realize," Ms Chaturvedi said.
Ms Chaturvedi urged consumers to write to computer manufacturersask where the remains of their computers are goingand encourage them to recycle responsibly. She said that the aim is not to take away these jobsbut to raise standards and improve working conditions for those already dealing with the world's e-waste.
- View a sneak preview of images from the documentary
- Learn more about Chintan
- Learn more about SVTC
