GOVERNMENTS should be the 1 who should start taking the 1st step to work out with all the manufacturers for solutions to have the waste properly recycled. No parties should just made MONEY and forget about the waste that they invented/created in the 1st place. Typical GOVERNMENTS always pushes all their waste to the poor at a very low cost, making them even poorer to do the jobs.
Do you have a New Year Resolution for 2011? If you are a US American resident, please, please, please urge your Congressman or Congresswoman to support HR (House Resolution) 6252 - the Congressional bill to ban export of e-waste to developing countries!
The US doesn't have facilities to recycle the e-waste, because we don't manufacture those products here. If we were to recycle them here first and then ship whatever is left to China, it would be too costly. Since manufacturing has moved to China for a cheap labor and looser regulation, that's where the waste is needed. China needs to enforce regulations for recycling. Whoever buys the waste, needs to be responsible for properly and ethically processing the material.
1st world countries buy there electronics from china " Made in China" anyone? then when we are done with it we ship it back. this is what happens when you ship all the jobs overseas.
Who cares!!!, The fact that I live in America gives me the right to be a consumer on a massive scale, hell I buy a new computer at least twice a year. I love me my alien ware PC's
company make this e-waste are the one need to be blame.
they design a product that would last not long enough and become out of lead so fast.
and people like new product need to be blame also.now big crop even force us to change our computer because better OS.Big crop want us money so badly for
You don't need to travel to Ghana to see the abuse of Hazardous Wastes. The irish environmental authorities have been turing a blind eye to unwashed chemical containers and contaminated silage plastics being exported. This waste ends up in China and Vietnam where it ends up being washed in rivers, often by children.
Dont take this wrong, but most of the electronics now come from China, they dont mind selling them in the U.S. one bit. The government of China is paid to take this waste,I-E, they want it. The conditions in China will never improve unless the chinese people demand it. in the southern U.S. toxic waste from the northern cities is the largest import of the state, but no one cares about that. Its very sad, but I dont see any of you giving up YOUR electronics because of it.
BARE WITH ME.Dont take this wrong, but most of the electronics now come from China, they dont mind selling them in the U.S. one bit. The government of China is paid to take this waste,I-E, they want it. The conditions in China will never improve unless the chinese people demand it. in the southern U.S. toxic waste from the northern cities is the largest import of the state, but no one cares about that. Its very sad, but I dont see any of you giving up YOUR electronics because of it.
MOST recycled trash and counterfeits from china are sold over these platforms:
ERAI, PARTHUNTER, IDEA, BROKERFORUM, ICSOURCE, NETCOMPONENTS, USBID, EBAY are main source of counterfeits, where millions of worth of counterfeit traded every week. If these platforms are shutdown, probably fakes and pirated business is gone which is done online in very sophisticated way.Agencies like ERAI, IDEA help improvise the counterfeit and some of them also provide escrow services for known piracy business.
Seriously, I bet half of that landfill can be prevented if people weren't such dumbasses. I had a problem with my computer once. Lots of error messages. What was the problem? Dust. Fucking, dust. Luckily I knew how to clean it out. I'm not sure about everyone else.
This is the APOCALYPSE, as least it looks like it. Some Chinese guy was asked whether he wants to keep that stuff up. "Yeah," he said with a grin, "because the money's so good". BUT: he might not be aware he annihilates environment in no time which will affect FIVE UPCOMING GENERATIONS, that is, in the year 2100 maybe this is still able to feel. All these lakes of highly-toxic sludge and whatnot are produced by a generation which doesn't care a flying FUCK about upcoming ones.
Instead of bellyaching about what the American government should do about it, why don't you ask what I can do about it?!?
Here is a start. Use your computer for as long as possible. My Mac is 6 years old. My best friend uses a P3 from around 2001 and it's fine. When you NEED a new PC, give the old one to someone who can use it. Place an ad in the local paper giving it away or for the price of the ad. Some local poor family could really use it and it stays out of the dump that much longer.
The solution is live in a cave,no electricity or electronics whatsoever.Thats the real solution and you know it.But why do we have to care about those chinks,anyway.
It creates work, not a job. Shit, we could just outlaw bulldozers and everyone in America could have a job. We want jobs that increase productivity and either make us richer or give us more free time. Making make-work is what made the great depression great. Think about all the work we could create by burning down houses and then rebuilding them... The idea isn't work or work's sake you know.
Couldn't be more true, christo930. I was taking out the garbage out THIS night, a few hours ago. I saw an almost brand-spanking new computer in the dumpster. The case looked expensive. I WOULD'VE used it if it wasn't already in the dumpster. I wasn't sure how long it was in there, so I was afraid to take it out if it was contaminated. But I was SO ANGRY. Even if the PC parts inside were awful, the case was still !@#&*%ing beautiful. I wasn't even scratched up that much.
I also want to post flyers around my neighborhood, saying that I MYSELF am WILLING to take in broken computers that haven't been put in the dumpster yet. I bet half of them could be fixed, because it looks like people don't even KNOW better! It's sickening. I can't just sit around here, with my neighborhood screwing things up!
@velderia your 100% true but think about FOR A MOMENT, if these fucking computers are causing so much trouble for the enviroment why dont they find a solution to make non-toxic computers so they wont have these problems where people are getting toxicated and shit.
If they figured out how to produce enviromental friendly vehicles I am sure somewhere out in this world there is a man that has a brain to produce enviromental computers its just logic. Now in my neighborhood for every comuter that is being recycled they want ten dollars now i say fuck that cause its all a game, they want to take money, just because a human kind cant produce a enviromental friendly computer. these days ur payin for everthin prices go up people go poor. LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
The poor are getting poorer and the the rich are getting richer. China is only trying to survive, it's not like they want the waste dumped there, if you're poor as hell you'd do whatever it takes to live right? Regardless of your health or the environment.
US and the other world powers have the responsibility for their trash, they shouldn't be dumping it on developing countries.
That's just it, we don't dump this stuff on them. Their companies out bid our companies for the recycling contracts. The reason they are able to underbid us is because they don't pay the full costs of disposal, they dump in on pub lands and waters.
If the Chinese (and Indian) gov would crack down on the polluters, they wouldn't be able to underbid us and the cost would be more realistic and would be priced in the purchase price. But everyone wants something for nothing.
This idea that America is rich is absolutely insane. With the credit cards and home equity loans yanked, American consumers can't afford most of what they used to afford. Total US debt (consumer+gov+future entitlements) is so high as to be almost arbitrary since we can't pay it back anyway. The Chinese gov is rich. The only way America could help clean up China is by borrowing the money from China!
Everyone wants to be good people, but be realistic about it.
And just look at the computer that mother fucker has. Multi-paned monitor and he talks about us being wasteful. I bet you he uses a computer for 5-7 years before getting a new one (Yeah, right).
Let the Chinese clean their own environment and we can start cleaning ours. We can start with getting the huge island of plastic floating out on the Pacific ocean. The Chesapeake is a mess. You going to trust US to fix your environment?
The Solution is "Fair Trade". Like Fair Trade Coffee was better than the coffee boycott. fairtraderecycling has a video response. You work with the buyers of used equipment (who can't afford new) and make sure you are sending what they can use. "Zero Export" makes it worse, they have to buy the PCs from back alley junk dealers who mix in "Toxics Along for the Ride". Refusing to ship good stuff is as bad (or worse) than willingess to ship bad stuff.
They accept the shipments to get money. Why else would they? If they don't accept the shipments then they don't get paid, and then what? - starve? Lovely choice.
ya that's there fault. Turn our country into a dump for money?? Ok!! sounds like a deal. Some leader or politician makes these decisions, thats there fault, not going to feel sorry for some crybaby leftist attention grabber that is their responsibility.
i had no idea about this, until I watched CSI:NY tonight. I had it recorded on teh DVR from wednesday night, but didn't get a chance to watch it til tonight, saturday nite/early sunday morning. the episode for tonite, told a story about this, I checked here on the internet to see if what was being showed was just 'hollywood hype' or not.....sadly, it's not hollywood hype. this is Very Sad. It makes me feel ashamed to be an american, to know that us americans do this to china & other countries.
In case you don't understand, here's an example. Let's say HP want's to sell a new printer.First they draft the design, then they test it.After that they give the "blueprints" to a factory in China (cheap labour), then the factory manufactures them following the specific instructions, and sends them back.
The same can be applied to almost every company in the IT industry (except maybe Intel).
So if you've noticed, the only part who the factories have say in is to make it or not
They work with engineers at the factory when the stuff is being designed so they know how much it will cost and what is feasible and whats not.. They also have no control over how (or which) chemicals used in the process are used or disposed of. They have no control over what safety equipment is given to the workers or what safety procedures the factories use. They have no control over Chinese recyclers who throw waste in the river. You think labor price is everything, it's not.
I am not aware of any law in the US that says we can't export computers used or new.
Here's a solution, why doesn't the Chinese take our used computers and give them to Chinese people who can't afford computers? Most of them are only 2-4 years old and work fine. Maybe they won't run Vista, but XP just fine. And for the record, there are 1.3 to 1.6 billion people in China. America has 300m or .3 billion. We are a rounding error for the Chinese.
let's be fair... ppl saying how bad chinese governmen is.... how much chinese ppl been suffering..( i kinda agree on this though) but u see.....there r always other sides...
You bitch about the manufacturing, BUT IT ALL TAKES PLACE IN CHINA!!! It's your trash. You put Americans out of jobs, then put them out of recycling jobs and then bellyache when THEY DESTROY THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT! Did we tell them to dump it in the river? This is why we can't compete with China, even with the high energy costs of transporting the shit a half a world away. I can't understand why I should feel guilty because of what you do? China has no respect for the land, air, water or people.
christo930 you and people of your thinking (americans) are the true evil people, your ease of living is made so by the exploitation of others, America has no respect for Land Air or Water, if it's more cost effective to ship it to a country that will jsut dump shit in the ocean then that is the American way
Why do Americans have to take responsibility for something people do in another country ruled by people in which we have no vote or say? They are the ones manufacturing the stuff, why don't they design it so it's easier to recycle? Why do we have to take the blame for what they do? They break their own laws to underbid our workers who have to follow the law, but it's our responsibility when they fuck up? I guess they don't use electronics in Asia and Europe and the rest of the world?
YOU threw the shit out with disregard for what happens after that
IF american's wanted the work mabey they could develop ways to do it cleaner and bring the jobs to america, BUT then you wouldn't be able to buy that computer for dirt cheap, because you wouldn't be externalizing the cost of disposing of the waste
I got news for you my friend, this e-waste is not mostly American consumers, it is businesses. Consumers keep computers far longer than businesses do. A great deal of this stuff also comes from Europe. So get off your soap box and learn.
How can we EVER compete on a non level playing field? We are simply not willing to do that to our environment and it will always be cheaper to throw it in the river than to really recycle it. They made it, they bought it back, it's their waste. Let them clean
first of all, yes chinese workers, and LEDCs, NICs have low wages.
but in the end, it's corporate america that CHOOSES to exploit these low wages.
there's $1 burgers from mcdees and $20 burgers from fancy schmancy restaurant, you decide to eat at mcdees, why are you blaming them for their low prices?
and secondly, factories have no say in material, unless they sneak it. the design is done by research & development within america, using american intelligence. thus it is up the the firms, R&D to make something recycylable
"It's everyone's fault. It's natural. And we need change"
That isn't what the video says. The video says it's our fault that they destroy their own environment and that we use them as a dumping ground. They want it, they pay for it. They want the profit without the costs, so they avoid the monetary costs by dumping the waste in the river. We are $50T in debt and we are in NO position to help. China has $T's in RESERVES, they are more equipped to deal with this problem than we are
ur a fucking dick head. i dun want my used old computer to be process by these people who don't have the "technology" to fully recycle it. what your saying is that we should send these to other countries to make them use their money to recycle. that's call selfish. and second designers are the one who plan the product and manufa makes it. Third WE HAVE THE TECH TO RECYCLE IT, why don't we do it? right...cuz it cost alot and these people who use hands or metal to open techs aren't being harm.
I'd like to see what you would do in real life with a subject like this. Would you walk up to someone calling them dickheads and fuck you? You would get knocked the fuck out.
Yeah, they manufactured it, let them recycle it.
I would LOVE to see an American firm get the contract to do the recycling, but they defer the costs onto the environment and we can't compete with that because of our environmental laws.
They are the rich ones, not us. We are broke! They will be sending their old stuff here!
selfish.... use ur head not ur ass to think. Manufacturer doesn't design the product.
Take some responsibilities for fuck sake, and average chinese aren't rich. You're just a pawn of corporations. One day other countries will dump in USA and killing our citizen, it's okay in ur book i guess.
The usual answer is that we should pay to clean up China's environment. How does that work? We sell the Chinese gov US bonds, then give the money back to the Chinese gov to clean up their environment?
Here is a real answer (which I actually practice).
Use equipment until it is no longer useful. I still have a 99 computer in full service and a 1985 TV in full time service and I will extend it with a box. There is no NEED to buy a computer or tv every 2 years!
None of this could possibly be due to the corrupt governments these countries have, right? Their willingness to turn a blind eye to the environment and the worker is somehow America's fault, right?
When PC's were a business product and their true cost were actually paid, they were usually several thousand dollars.
The Chinese govt also deliberately manipulates their currency to keep it artificially low to give their workers and unfair advantage. That and their total disregard for the environment is what makes them so monetarily competitive. Remove those things and the American worker could compete.
"It's everyone's fault. It's natural. And we need change"
That is what I said, and am saying again; regardless of what the video says. We need to change. "their total disregard for the environment" is totally FUD, because the ones who design the products are YOU, as in "corporate America", and those who make them (i.e. "third world" countries ) often has no say over how to make them.
The American worker cannot compete because of the high standard of lifestyle— there is a minimum wage.
And the fact of the matter is, is that we are not going to do anything. China is a rich country and America is broke. I am not saying the Chinese PEOPLE are rich, but China is a creditor nation. They lend America money, not the other way around. Saying America is rich is like saying someone who has hocked everything they own to stay afloat is rich. We are broke worse than any nation on earth. What do you want us to do about it? America is broke and we have run out of stuff to hock. Good luck!
Talk about being out of touch with reality. There are 6.8 billion people on the earth, how can China have 12 billion? You are not even remotely aware of how many people are on the earth or in China and you tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
Heres reality. America is NOT going to do it. We can't, we don't have the money. They have to deal with the problem because we won't. What about Europe and the UK? They use the shit too, let them pay. Everyone wants money from the US.
It's called product design. Take a look at Apple's new laptops or computers in general in the newest generation. it's called recyclability. It's called materials that can be easily extracted from the parts of the products.
You propose to know so much about China and yet you don't even have a clue as to the Chinese population. FTR, there are between 1.3 and 1.6 billion people in China.
Don't just watch an Anti American video and presume that we are taking advantage of the Chinese. It's simply not true. Look at it from both sides. Even if America WANTED to clean up China AND had the money to do it, how could we? They are a foreign nation. And their factories are just as responsible for design, probably more so.
"Even if America WANTED to clean up China AND had the money to do it, how could we? They are a foreign nation. And their factories are just as responsible for design, probably more so."
As I have said before, China is, per capita, a lot poorer than the states. Factories have no say on design, and i am repeating this over and over again. A company, say, Apple, hands plans to the contracted factories and just pays them to make them. That is how it works. plain and simple.
If China had any sense, they would take our used computers and give them to their citizens. But that is beside the point. America has no control over what they do, I can't understand why you can't see that. Do you not think that there are American recyclers that want to do the recycling? We can't compete with them because they lower costs at the cost of the environment. We did that shit up until around 70's and it took billions to clean it up. We learned our lesson, they need to learn theirs.
Exactly. People are giving them to recyclers with "shady" backgrounds and they send them to third world countries. There are things that Americans can do: recycle them with the manufacturers, or at least give them to well established recyclers.
And product design? it's the designer's fault... who else?
Well I certainly wouldn't oppose Chinese manufacturers and American engineers working together to make a product that is easier to recycle at the end of it's useful life. I also think that we should extend the useful life of computers in the first place. Shoddy software design, more than anything, necessitates hardware upgrades. Apple is leading the charge with Hardware design and Snow Leopard which is going to be far more efficient than any other recent Mac OS release.
"Well I certainly wouldn't oppose Chinese manufacturers and American engineers working together to make a product that is easier to recycle at the end of it's useful life. Shoddy software design, more than anything, necessitates hardware upgrades. Apple is leading the charge with Hardware design and Snow Leopard which is going to be far more efficient than any other recent Mac OS release."
And when there is a minimum wage, manufacturers just go somewhere else where the supply of workers are high, such as China, India, and several other "third world" countries.
(by "third world" I meant "developing" countries. I just want to put it in context.)
It has nothing to do with a minimum wage. The minimum wage is just a political piece of shit. You will notice the MW is always well below the market value of 95% of wages affecting the lowest of tht low wages. No factory pays mw. It's cost of living. No american can work for what a chinese can work for. To say that their total disregard for their environment is fud is just silly. It's their fault and you are just anti-west and especially anti-american.
Because the cost of labour is high, the companies are moving to places where there is cheap labor. That's just a fact. If workers would work for what the avg. Chinese worker works for— or less, then yeah, they would move back. (Why would they stay in China if it costs more?)
"To say that their total disregard for their environment is fud is just silly." Disprove it.
It's just that you are either misinformed, or simply blatant ignorant
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
this might sound rather pigish, but atleast it went back to were it came from. Since 80% of electronics arent made in the U.S. anyway and made in places like tiawan and china, its good to see there getting the trash they made back. i really dont think its a problem on us giving them the trash that came from there in the first place,i think its the way these ppl are disposing of them, with out PPE and proper disposal habits, thats whats killing them, the lack of someone caring about there safety.
It's called outsourcing! Don't blame it on the lower developed countries. Most people live in poverty and NEED those jobs to survive. They don't want to make inferior products, but they HAVE to.
products that are manufactured in china are developed and designed by firms' R&D in the US, EU and Japan. So "they" are making the trash "we" are asking them to do, cos noone in your counry would like to or do it for the same price. stop being so ignorant, wake UP! thanks for the vid, really appreciated
Nicely put. Also kimmycakes002 to add to the comments before. We are responsible for this problem (U.S. and countries who send it to there) however we are sending it to them (asian countries) to do this hazardous task. They have to! People aren't aware of where they send their e-waste, if they even bother to send it away. Don't be so ignorant because we ALL are at fault. We should've been aware of this earlier, and PREVENTED it. Like my fater always says "The prevention is better than the cure."
It's not our fault that they chose to poison their environment. They put us out of work making it, then they put us out of work recycling it. We could do it, and do it clean, but we can't compete financially, because we would do it clean and they just pollute. I say screw em. They made it, let them get it back.
That's such a selfish thing to say. Fine, you know what I won't help you, but tohers need to help countries like China. We are asking them to make such things, and what are you talking about? "You put Americans out of work"? What do you mean "out of work" because they do minimum age work to provide for their families and then import it to China?!! We are one world if you haven't realized, it's "all for one" not "every man for himself". With that kind of moral we will be 'screwed'.
Why are we responsible for what they do to their environment? What we should do is DEMAND that they conform to environmental standards since all that black water ends up in the sea that we share with them. If they conformed to environmental standards, they wouldn't be able to underbid us anymore and put us out of work at the cost of the environment. While we are at it, we should DEMAND they treat the worker humanely and allow him/her to work safely. Then we could really be on even grounds.
The US is responsible because by law it is LEGAL to do so.
Western ideals simply DON'T WORK in China, there's too much poverty, and if you've been there and experienced it first hand, you'll know how hard people work at anything to make a few pennies. It's a struggle for survival, you just can't say "The government just needs to handle it better". People who are poor and driven by a survival instinct to commit these environmental atrocities. Demands mean shit, recall the student protest of 1989.
The student protests of 1989 were successful. They are what led to the reforms that have turned China into a economic super power. They have the money and the resources. We on the other hand, are broke and in debt to our ears. WE are not responsible for what THEY do.
We the Human Being Destroying the Beautiful Earth and for that we can not blame others but us. Our lavish lifestyle and over use of technology making the nature in stake indeed.
I am using a laptop to type this... Isnt it also unnecessary ? we can live on without this crap things. its true It make the life easier and its potentiality is undeniable but have we ever thought about the long run effect of this ????
I think there needs to be education on primary level on right and wrong and how to help in realtime. Good knowledge is the most important thing, also happiness. Fortunately we are all different and what may seem unlivable to us may be fine to others. I think that it's more fun to be with people, travel and experience diffent cultures, also to read than to buy things.
Of course the manufacturing countries have to be clean. I know from personal experience how dangerous toxic chemicals are. You don't realize that it affects you but it does. The most important thing I believe is too focus on the good options.
It's not like the US is dropping this stuff from air planes. it's greedy Chinese business men who don't care about china buying this stuff for the gold and other materials.
Its not greedy Chinese businessmen who BUY this crap, it's greedy Americans in the waste disposal business who PAY Chinese to dispose of the toxic material without caring about its proper disposal.
Waste disposal is like any other business - there's a cost of doing business! Rather than invest part of their revenues to tool-up and become efficient businessmen, they just take in money for trash disposal, but spend less than what is needed for its proper disposal - they're cheaters!
Some of the "cool Video" this guy shows is perfectly recyclable glass tubes. You can go online and find that we DO recycle tubes such as are thrown out on the trash in China. And other images you see are not even ewaste. Just household trash. So this guy tries to blame US for poor Chinese practices. Then shows how stupid the chinese are and blames American consumers. You fellows need to get a grip on reality. Stop living in fantasy land.
Also USA is not a strong supporter of the guidelines on MPPI since it is a flawed law. Denmark was actually trying to use the law to stop the scrapping of a ship in India that contained asbestos. But India has it's own rules on asbestos and has every right to scrap a ship. Denmark just wanted to force the owner into bankruptcy. So the law can be misapplied. It is supposed to be about cell phones remember? But then you don't seem too concerned with reality.
You are highly blessed with IGNORANCE. Are you telling me Denmark alone was the sole signatory to the MPPI? Do you know the MPPI was signed by different Member States in the US? If the US is not a strong supporter of the MPPI guidelines, why has the US delayed a drafting a singular guideline of its own on Electronic waste policy? Even in the UK, there is the IPR which has come into the law which is to supplement the WEEE, RoHS directive. Get a reality check john.
alot of the trash this video shows is not even ewaste. It's just regional trash. And USA does have shops that recycle clean ewaste. If these third world countries did not take our ewaste we would have resources to better use our ewaste. I say outlaw exporting ewaste and let's do it ourselves. We can do better than these third world monkeys.
You are recklessly ignorant. Who are the third world monkeys? Why are you this ridiculously daft?
Ask yourself, what do you do with your used electronic product? Do not tell me that you had been sensible to know how to properly recycle your used WEEE.
I told you I conducted a research on heavy metals in soil and there was an appreciable amount of Pb, Hg present in the soil, in which, if traced back can be attributed to dumping metals in soils.
You did testing? ya i bet. I have yet to throw a used computer or cell phone in the trash. In fact I recycled two old computers. Or rather used one to fix up another one and upgraded it with xp and gave to my housekeeper. She and her six kids were very happy to finally have a home computer. I guess that was ignorant of me huh? and I sold the spare parts to a computer repairman. there was only one damaged part. It was a processor. What he did with it I have no idea. The frame went to scrap metal.
Another hogwash of yours again. Do you know the guidelines on the MPPI under the Basel Convention of 2003 was done in the USA, while at the same time, the USA does not have any singular legislation on WEEE? DO you know the USA produces 17million tonnes of WEEE annually?
"The EU's WEEE & RoHS Directives are complex pieces of legislation. In publishing these web pages, the U.S. Department of Commerce aims to assist U.S. companies in selling electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to Europe" your ignorance is staggering. WEEE is a european law. of course we don't have laws on it. We have our own laws jackass. You want me to outline WEEE here? There is no space and that is not my concern. I don't export to Europe so who is a jackass? YOU!
What is so complex with those two directives? RoHS is directed towards eliminating heavy metals usage for electronic products. Is the US failing to know that? Is that so complex to do? If you do not export to Europe, where do you export to? Can you confidently say, the US has a singular legislation that mandates all electronic producers to comply with? Even the US EPA will laugh at your ludicrous intelligence that you so much hold in high esteem. John MOOCH.
What is the diff btw regional trash and ewaste. Now you shift the blame on third world countries when the US itself has not lived up to its responsibility. I knew you would humor me with your ignorance. Whoever invested in your education should be SUED. Monkeys are far more articulate than the bunkum you keep typing on the internet. What a waste you are. You are an educational piece of disaster.
Envirotalk you think your abuse will make people care? On the contrary. The more abusive you are the less credit your opinions carry. This guy on the video is nothing more than a communist shill. Nothing has been shipped to China that China did not want. These people have no rules for ewaste themselves. These people abuse themselves and this guy blames USA. You do not see people doing this crap in USA because we DO have laws against it. It is you who are deluded and misguided.
I get what your saying and I agree with it. But could you stop with all the "holier then thou" and "your ignorant" bullshit. Please try to add a strain of maturity and make youtube a little more bearable for those of use who apperciate the art of debate... thanks
I don't understand how you can say you get what he was saying and agree, and then attack him as being "holier then thou" and saying he should stop "your ignorant" bullshit.
You ask him to try and ad a strain of maturity.
I find that funny because to me, it is you and not him that is immature.
He knows of a serious challenge to people's lives and their health and the damage done to our environment.
im not accusing him of being anything... i just dont see what good could come out of ending or beginning a comment with "You are highly blessed with IGNORANCE"... as far as his argument is concerned... i agree.. i only see the whole "your ignorant" thing as childish... i did not mean any offense
I didn't see him start out with or end with a comment like "you are highly blessed with IGNORANCE".
I felt the video was produced very well and didn't see it as an attack video.
It looked like a well researched video, I look forward to seeing him do a video, which will clearly explain some positive solutions we are doing and can do to help with all the toxic trash we are producing.
wait a min... seems like you misunderstood my comment... it was a repsonse to envirotalks comments while he argued with johnknoefler. i have nothing agaisnt the video, i was suggesting that enviro should take a more mature direction then verbal insults... becuase he would constantly say that john is "ignorant"... get it?
I suggest you apply the same medicine to your senses, than suggest to me I spit ignorant bullshit. I don't even know what your point is. Hope you learn the art of articulate debating. Thanks
I happened to have conducted a research on Heavy Metals in Soil for a Cocoa farm plantation in Nigeria, and I discovered that the amount of heavy metal content in these soil was ridiculously high.
At the moment, am working on e-waste/supply chain management for the UK, discovered some practices which encourages shipping of end-of-life electronics to third world countries eg Nigeria.
Envirotalk do you blame chocolate eaters for the heavy metals in the soil of Cocoa farms? Did it occur to you to test any virgin soil nearby as a base measurment? Your ignorance is appalling.
what comes around goes around, U.S sending toxic waste to china and china in return send poisonous toys to the U.S its that simple you see? so to resolve the problem one should take the 1st step to improve the matter at hand before the freakin world blows up and we all have to move to Mars hehe.
I can't help but think that maybe having a fundraiser to donate air type masks, or some type of safety equipment for these people to keep them safe from the fumes?
I just wish electronic based companies would just use something more environmental friendly a bit more quicker. By the time that happens it may be too little too late.
I just feel awful for these people having to go through this horrible fate.
We [the USA]need to make a deal with China. If They stop sending us poisonous TOYS and poisonous products that fall apart; we will stop sending poisonous trash to them! It works both ways.
Buy better quality stuff and keep it longer. Hire an American to fix something ie. TV or Car instead of throwing it away. Make what you have last longer such as buy a DTV converter box and keep your old TV out of the waste streem.
Sell or give away working electronic stuff you no longer want.
Kudos to this guy for doing this work and getting out the word. I think that this industry will clean itself up eventually, but we all need to demand green products with the electronics we buy. Vote with your wallet, and do your research.
Yes, we need to know what is happening to the products we bring to the recycling center. Are they actually recycling it or just shipping it to some country like China to pollute their environment over there?? The electronics industry should take back the used stuff and recycle it in an environmentally friendly way. If we have to pay a recycling fee or something, we will have to deal with it.
I am so happy the Olympics are in China, maybe the media will finally call attention to this situation. These cheap products we get from China/Asia are having a huge toll on the environment.
I remember seeing Bill Moyers on PBS reporting on this very same thing in 1989. IBM was a major bad guy then. It's a shame that nothing has changed since then.
If only people had adopted Amiga technology instead.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
All this stuff comes from China, Chinese companies profit from the original sale, why shouldn't it go back to China? They put our workers out of a job and they expect us to import their stuff and then keep the waste? NO WAY. You built it, you get it back! Invest the profits from making it into proper recycling factories.
so you shouldn't be responsible for flushing your toilet?
get real, guy. It doesn't matter who builds the stuff, the consumer's still pay for it to be built.
if there wasn't a market for it, it'd never be made.
its the consumers that still send it out here when they're done.
if you go to a restaurant and your meal doesn't taste very good, you don't thereby reserve the right to throw it back in the cook's face or leave it and mess up his restaurant.
That logic is crazy. The point is, is that they build it and they profit from it and they should invest some of their profits into proper recycling. Further, we don't dump it there, they PAY for it. If THEY choose to not practice environmentally responsible recycling why should we be made to look like villans. They are breaking there own laws, but it's somehow our fault.
How is this our fault? The point is, is that they build it and they profit from it and they should invest some of their profits into proper recycling. Further, we don't dump it there, they PAY for it. If THEY choose to not practice environmentally responsible recycling why should we be made to look like villans. They are breaking there own laws, but it's somehow our fault.
So... who else is watching this for the Geography exam in the morning?
mikeaction321 2 months ago
@mikeaction321 ME
jsmith333666 2 months ago
I wrote a paper on this subject last month...it is rather disturbing.
DragonAurora 8 months ago
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GOVERNMENTS should be the 1 who should start taking the 1st step to work out with all the manufacturers for solutions to have the waste properly recycled. No parties should just made MONEY and forget about the waste that they invented/created in the 1st place. Typical GOVERNMENTS always pushes all their waste to the poor at a very low cost, making them even poorer to do the jobs.
Skyetchsolutions 8 months ago
中国 广东省 汕头市 潮南区 贵屿镇 。国外的电子垃圾就运送到这里——贵屿镇
Hwangxf 11 months ago
中国 广东省 汕头市 潮南区 贵屿镇 。国外的电子垃圾就运送到这里——贵屿镇
Hwangxf 11 months ago
Do you have a New Year Resolution for 2011? If you are a US American resident, please, please, please urge your Congressman or Congresswoman to support HR (House Resolution) 6252 - the Congressional bill to ban export of e-waste to developing countries!
OnePeopleOneChina 1 year ago
call that "dumping"? search boat harbour, pictou landing reserve, you will hear/read some enviromental destruction.
gazelle109 1 year ago
The US doesn't have facilities to recycle the e-waste, because we don't manufacture those products here. If we were to recycle them here first and then ship whatever is left to China, it would be too costly. Since manufacturing has moved to China for a cheap labor and looser regulation, that's where the waste is needed. China needs to enforce regulations for recycling. Whoever buys the waste, needs to be responsible for properly and ethically processing the material.
JulieanneDicianu 1 year ago
And the companies manufacturing the electronics need to stop putting toxins and heavy metals in the products.
JulieanneDicianu 1 year ago
How about putting the t.v./monitor tubes through a waterfall of acid and a magnet collecting the led which is now mixed with the acid.
Paint00076 1 year ago
1st world countries buy there electronics from china " Made in China" anyone? then when we are done with it we ship it back. this is what happens when you ship all the jobs overseas.
DaMoose85 1 year ago
Who cares!!!, The fact that I live in America gives me the right to be a consumer on a massive scale, hell I buy a new computer at least twice a year. I love me my alien ware PC's
KrypticGuy666 1 year ago
@KrypticGuy666 fuck you
pipomenas 1 year ago
@pipomenas Indeed >:3
KrypticGuy666 1 year ago
boo hoo hoo america isnt the only country full of electronics.
blacksuite1 1 year ago
@blacksuite1 but the most populous.. probably.
njetblaj 1 year ago
company make this e-waste are the one need to be blame.
they design a product that would last not long enough and become out of lead so fast.
and people like new product need to be blame also.now big crop even force us to change our computer because better OS.Big crop want us money so badly for
what? war against terror? do we have enough war ?
RussellTuan 1 year ago
You don't need to travel to Ghana to see the abuse of Hazardous Wastes. The irish environmental authorities have been turing a blind eye to unwashed chemical containers and contaminated silage plastics being exported. This waste ends up in China and Vietnam where it ends up being washed in rivers, often by children.
TNKeane 1 year ago
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Dont take this wrong, but most of the electronics now come from China, they dont mind selling them in the U.S. one bit. The government of China is paid to take this waste,I-E, they want it. The conditions in China will never improve unless the chinese people demand it. in the southern U.S. toxic waste from the northern cities is the largest import of the state, but no one cares about that. Its very sad, but I dont see any of you giving up YOUR electronics because of it.
cockerbunny 1 year ago
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BARE WITH ME.Dont take this wrong, but most of the electronics now come from China, they dont mind selling them in the U.S. one bit. The government of China is paid to take this waste,I-E, they want it. The conditions in China will never improve unless the chinese people demand it. in the southern U.S. toxic waste from the northern cities is the largest import of the state, but no one cares about that. Its very sad, but I dont see any of you giving up YOUR electronics because of it.
cockerbunny 1 year ago
Your telling us about computers how about all those computers on ur desk. I WONDER IF THIS GUY CATHES THE IRONY
cockerbunny 1 year ago
I agree with christo's perspective
cockerbunny 1 year ago
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MOST recycled trash and counterfeits from china are sold over these platforms:
ERAI, PARTHUNTER, IDEA, BROKERFORUM, ICSOURCE, NETCOMPONENTS, USBID, EBAY are main source of counterfeits, where millions of worth of counterfeit traded every week. If these platforms are shutdown, probably fakes and pirated business is gone which is done online in very sophisticated way.Agencies like ERAI, IDEA help improvise the counterfeit and some of them also provide escrow services for known piracy business.
AmericanPiracyTrade 1 year ago
poor countries can't afford to import new ones and they have no choice.
chjcatoj 1 year ago
Desire brings waste.
We waste the energy we could use to work, and we show this by what we leave on the ground...hoping that something else will do the work.
We have no idea how to even give to others.
Sacrifice8 2 years ago
Are some of this Waste contain Lead and Cadium? The Cadium are coming back in Made in China Children's Jewelry.
Topazman12 2 years ago
Comment removed
kawaiiultraneo 2 years ago
Bet those ten hard-drives i upgraded are there somewhere....
kawaiiultraneo 2 years ago
Seriously, I bet half of that landfill can be prevented if people weren't such dumbasses. I had a problem with my computer once. Lots of error messages. What was the problem? Dust. Fucking, dust. Luckily I knew how to clean it out. I'm not sure about everyone else.
velderia 2 years ago
Well done! Very informative! Thanks Mr. Zhao.
GaryPansey 2 years ago
This should be the destination of all Celeron CPU's straight off the assembly line :-p
carl0071 2 years ago
This is the APOCALYPSE, as least it looks like it. Some Chinese guy was asked whether he wants to keep that stuff up. "Yeah," he said with a grin, "because the money's so good". BUT: he might not be aware he annihilates environment in no time which will affect FIVE UPCOMING GENERATIONS, that is, in the year 2100 maybe this is still able to feel. All these lakes of highly-toxic sludge and whatnot are produced by a generation which doesn't care a flying FUCK about upcoming ones.
pianoman74 2 years ago 8
Instead of bellyaching about what the American government should do about it, why don't you ask what I can do about it?!?
Here is a start. Use your computer for as long as possible. My Mac is 6 years old. My best friend uses a P3 from around 2001 and it's fine. When you NEED a new PC, give the old one to someone who can use it. Place an ad in the local paper giving it away or for the price of the ad. Some local poor family could really use it and it stays out of the dump that much longer.
christo930 2 years ago 12
The solution is live in a cave,no electricity or electronics whatsoever.Thats the real solution and you know it.But why do we have to care about those chinks,anyway.
MrTabby5000 2 years ago
but it does create a job that obama promised.
MrTabby5000 2 years ago
It creates work, not a job. Shit, we could just outlaw bulldozers and everyone in America could have a job. We want jobs that increase productivity and either make us richer or give us more free time. Making make-work is what made the great depression great. Think about all the work we could create by burning down houses and then rebuilding them... The idea isn't work or work's sake you know.
christo930 2 years ago
well your free market isnt doing a great job creating jobs,now is it?
MrTabby5000 2 years ago
The gov screws up the economy and the free market gets the blame. Awesome.
christo930 2 years ago
@christo930
the republican free market policies screw up the economy and the democrats get the blame.
MrTabby5000 2 years ago
Couldn't be more true, christo930. I was taking out the garbage out THIS night, a few hours ago. I saw an almost brand-spanking new computer in the dumpster. The case looked expensive. I WOULD'VE used it if it wasn't already in the dumpster. I wasn't sure how long it was in there, so I was afraid to take it out if it was contaminated. But I was SO ANGRY. Even if the PC parts inside were awful, the case was still !@#&*%ing beautiful. I wasn't even scratched up that much.
velderia 2 years ago
I also want to post flyers around my neighborhood, saying that I MYSELF am WILLING to take in broken computers that haven't been put in the dumpster yet. I bet half of them could be fixed, because it looks like people don't even KNOW better! It's sickening. I can't just sit around here, with my neighborhood screwing things up!
velderia 2 years ago
@velderia your 100% true but think about FOR A MOMENT, if these fucking computers are causing so much trouble for the enviroment why dont they find a solution to make non-toxic computers so they wont have these problems where people are getting toxicated and shit.
cockerbunny 1 year ago
If they figured out how to produce enviromental friendly vehicles I am sure somewhere out in this world there is a man that has a brain to produce enviromental computers its just logic. Now in my neighborhood for every comuter that is being recycled they want ten dollars now i say fuck that cause its all a game, they want to take money, just because a human kind cant produce a enviromental friendly computer. these days ur payin for everthin prices go up people go poor. LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
cockerbunny 1 year ago
Comment removed
ecycleUK 2 years ago
The poor are getting poorer and the the rich are getting richer. China is only trying to survive, it's not like they want the waste dumped there, if you're poor as hell you'd do whatever it takes to live right? Regardless of your health or the environment.
US and the other world powers have the responsibility for their trash, they shouldn't be dumping it on developing countries.
bobixp 2 years ago 2
That's just it, we don't dump this stuff on them. Their companies out bid our companies for the recycling contracts. The reason they are able to underbid us is because they don't pay the full costs of disposal, they dump in on pub lands and waters.
If the Chinese (and Indian) gov would crack down on the polluters, they wouldn't be able to underbid us and the cost would be more realistic and would be priced in the purchase price. But everyone wants something for nothing.
christo930 2 years ago
the human race wants something for nothing, it will be our downfall :)
nogirl42 2 years ago
This idea that America is rich is absolutely insane. With the credit cards and home equity loans yanked, American consumers can't afford most of what they used to afford. Total US debt (consumer+gov+future entitlements) is so high as to be almost arbitrary since we can't pay it back anyway. The Chinese gov is rich. The only way America could help clean up China is by borrowing the money from China!
Everyone wants to be good people, but be realistic about it.
christo930 2 years ago
And just look at the computer that mother fucker has. Multi-paned monitor and he talks about us being wasteful. I bet you he uses a computer for 5-7 years before getting a new one (Yeah, right).
Let the Chinese clean their own environment and we can start cleaning ours. We can start with getting the huge island of plastic floating out on the Pacific ocean. The Chesapeake is a mess. You going to trust US to fix your environment?
christo930 2 years ago
The Solution is "Fair Trade". Like Fair Trade Coffee was better than the coffee boycott. fairtraderecycling has a video response. You work with the buyers of used equipment (who can't afford new) and make sure you are sending what they can use. "Zero Export" makes it worse, they have to buy the PCs from back alley junk dealers who mix in "Toxics Along for the Ride". Refusing to ship good stuff is as bad (or worse) than willingess to ship bad stuff.
fairtraderecycling 2 years ago
Btw, does not look like they do a good job of managing it either
jeebazz 2 years ago
LOL at the guy in the begining complaining about the US dumping electronics, while sitting infront of 2 very new looking flatscreen monitors.
Armin543 2 years ago
Oh, and leave it to Berkley to bring something up and of course offer no solution. stfu and live in a tree.
jeebazz 2 years ago 2
Seriously, this is the psycho-intellectual BS that comes from Berkley. Why don't those people fucking do something better?
jeebazz 2 years ago 2
So everybody is like boo hoo, and this guy making his point but, why the fuck do these places accept these shipments?
jeebazz 2 years ago
They accept the shipments to get money. Why else would they? If they don't accept the shipments then they don't get paid, and then what? - starve? Lovely choice.
It's a form of exploitation.
GasStation2 2 years ago
ya that's there fault. Turn our country into a dump for money?? Ok!! sounds like a deal. Some leader or politician makes these decisions, thats there fault, not going to feel sorry for some crybaby leftist attention grabber that is their responsibility.
jeebazz 2 years ago
Didn't realize this. We are all to blame. What can we do with this stuff?
dflier52 2 years ago
I am glad to see someone like yourself doing something about this problem.
tommytommy01 2 years ago
OMG thats what i call a desktop!
uetzel 2 years ago
i had no idea about this, until I watched CSI:NY tonight. I had it recorded on teh DVR from wednesday night, but didn't get a chance to watch it til tonight, saturday nite/early sunday morning. the episode for tonite, told a story about this, I checked here on the internet to see if what was being showed was just 'hollywood hype' or not.....sadly, it's not hollywood hype. this is Very Sad. It makes me feel ashamed to be an american, to know that us americans do this to china & other countries.
JenJui 2 years ago 2
get rich quick. shady people exploiting the poor.
capitalism is harsh.
expoitation is bad bad bad .
eventually we will open our eyes.
12valvepower1 2 years ago
all i got to say is, OMG....
Steeeph92 2 years ago
@christo930
In case you don't understand, here's an example. Let's say HP want's to sell a new printer.First they draft the design, then they test it.After that they give the "blueprints" to a factory in China (cheap labour), then the factory manufactures them following the specific instructions, and sends them back.
The same can be applied to almost every company in the IT industry (except maybe Intel).
So if you've noticed, the only part who the factories have say in is to make it or not
wikinerd 2 years ago
They work with engineers at the factory when the stuff is being designed so they know how much it will cost and what is feasible and whats not.. They also have no control over how (or which) chemicals used in the process are used or disposed of. They have no control over what safety equipment is given to the workers or what safety procedures the factories use. They have no control over Chinese recyclers who throw waste in the river. You think labor price is everything, it's not.
christo930 2 years ago
Product design. Just look at how Apple did it. Now if you think that Apple is not really the very best then prove it.
As for the "Chinese recyclers", it's called "illegal export of electronic waste".
wikinerd 2 years ago
I am not aware of any law in the US that says we can't export computers used or new.
Here's a solution, why doesn't the Chinese take our used computers and give them to Chinese people who can't afford computers? Most of them are only 2-4 years old and work fine. Maybe they won't run Vista, but XP just fine. And for the record, there are 1.3 to 1.6 billion people in China. America has 300m or .3 billion. We are a rounding error for the Chinese.
christo930 2 years ago
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. Look it up.
And also, they are often shipped as "metal scrap" and "cable scrap" which is legal but that is fraudulent.
wikinerd 2 years ago
What's the "safe" way to recyle lead, cadmium, and PCBs?
woofer0doofer 2 years ago
let's be fair... ppl saying how bad chinese governmen is.... how much chinese ppl been suffering..( i kinda agree on this though) but u see.....there r always other sides...
yuqikang 3 years ago
Seems like their government needs to get some regulations if they want to still receive the broken products.
Viebee 3 years ago
You bitch about the manufacturing, BUT IT ALL TAKES PLACE IN CHINA!!! It's your trash. You put Americans out of jobs, then put them out of recycling jobs and then bellyache when THEY DESTROY THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT! Did we tell them to dump it in the river? This is why we can't compete with China, even with the high energy costs of transporting the shit a half a world away. I can't understand why I should feel guilty because of what you do? China has no respect for the land, air, water or people.
christo930 3 years ago
well said sir. this is a direct result of china's own governing policy; nobody to blame but themselves for this mess.
akademiks21 3 years ago
such an ignorant view,
christo930 you and people of your thinking (americans) are the true evil people, your ease of living is made so by the exploitation of others, America has no respect for Land Air or Water, if it's more cost effective to ship it to a country that will jsut dump shit in the ocean then that is the American way
Jesusplant 2 years ago
Why do Americans have to take responsibility for something people do in another country ruled by people in which we have no vote or say? They are the ones manufacturing the stuff, why don't they design it so it's easier to recycle? Why do we have to take the blame for what they do? They break their own laws to underbid our workers who have to follow the law, but it's our responsibility when they fuck up? I guess they don't use electronics in Asia and Europe and the rest of the world?
christo930 2 years ago
YOU bought the shit
YOU payed for their jobs building the shit
YOU threw the shit out with disregard for what happens after that
IF american's wanted the work mabey they could develop ways to do it cleaner and bring the jobs to america, BUT then you wouldn't be able to buy that computer for dirt cheap, because you wouldn't be externalizing the cost of disposing of the waste
Jesusplant 2 years ago
I got news for you my friend, this e-waste is not mostly American consumers, it is businesses. Consumers keep computers far longer than businesses do. A great deal of this stuff also comes from Europe. So get off your soap box and learn.
How can we EVER compete on a non level playing field? We are simply not willing to do that to our environment and it will always be cheaper to throw it in the river than to really recycle it. They made it, they bought it back, it's their waste. Let them clean
christo930 2 years ago
are you kidding me?
first of all, yes chinese workers, and LEDCs, NICs have low wages.
but in the end, it's corporate america that CHOOSES to exploit these low wages.
there's $1 burgers from mcdees and $20 burgers from fancy schmancy restaurant, you decide to eat at mcdees, why are you blaming them for their low prices?
it's the company's CHOICE
nymph82687 2 years ago
and secondly, factories have no say in material, unless they sneak it. the design is done by research & development within america, using american intelligence. thus it is up the the firms, R&D to make something recycylable
nymph82687 2 years ago
It must be nice to dump your waste on others then blame them for not disposing of it correctly
Jesusplant 2 years ago
Let me get this straight.
THEY manufacture the stuff, putting Americans out of work in the process
THEY pay us for the recycling again putting Americans out of work
THEY mishandle the recycling for THEIR economic gain
THEN Americans get the blame for something that is happening on the other side of the world under a different government in which WE have NO SAY.
OK, I think I got it now.
It is not OUR fault. If THEY made the equipment easier to recycle in the first place this wouldn't happen.
christo930 2 years ago
please, as a bystander, this is what I see...
YOU, as a country, became rich, and wages are higher
YOU, as a country, built factories elsewhere where wages are lower
YOU, as a country, design those products with harmful substances and get the other countries to produce them
YOU, still believing there is value in used electronics, sold them to poor people such as those in Ghana or China
YOU, the person complaining, should understand.
It's everyone's fault. It's natural. And we need change.
wikinerd 2 years ago
"It's everyone's fault. It's natural. And we need change"
That isn't what the video says. The video says it's our fault that they destroy their own environment and that we use them as a dumping ground. They want it, they pay for it. They want the profit without the costs, so they avoid the monetary costs by dumping the waste in the river. We are $50T in debt and we are in NO position to help. China has $T's in RESERVES, they are more equipped to deal with this problem than we are
christo930 2 years ago
dumb fuck bitch
EterLightwave 2 years ago
You can disagree and call names all you want (which is all you can even think of) and it will never change the fact that you are wrong.
christo930 2 years ago
talking about fucking selffish fuck. u rather pollute and kill the people there just because they are richer? WTF
EterLightwave 2 years ago
ur a fucking dick head. i dun want my used old computer to be process by these people who don't have the "technology" to fully recycle it. what your saying is that we should send these to other countries to make them use their money to recycle. that's call selfish. and second designers are the one who plan the product and manufa makes it. Third WE HAVE THE TECH TO RECYCLE IT, why don't we do it? right...cuz it cost alot and these people who use hands or metal to open techs aren't being harm.
EterLightwave 2 years ago
Money > life
is what u want
fuck u
EterLightwave 2 years ago
I'd like to see what you would do in real life with a subject like this. Would you walk up to someone calling them dickheads and fuck you? You would get knocked the fuck out.
Yeah, they manufactured it, let them recycle it.
I would LOVE to see an American firm get the contract to do the recycling, but they defer the costs onto the environment and we can't compete with that because of our environmental laws.
They are the rich ones, not us. We are broke! They will be sending their old stuff here!
christo930 2 years ago
selfish.... use ur head not ur ass to think. Manufacturer doesn't design the product.
Take some responsibilities for fuck sake, and average chinese aren't rich. You're just a pawn of corporations. One day other countries will dump in USA and killing our citizen, it's okay in ur book i guess.
EterLightwave 2 years ago
OK, explain to me what we should do.
The usual answer is that we should pay to clean up China's environment. How does that work? We sell the Chinese gov US bonds, then give the money back to the Chinese gov to clean up their environment?
Here is a real answer (which I actually practice).
Use equipment until it is no longer useful. I still have a 99 computer in full service and a 1985 TV in full time service and I will extend it with a box. There is no NEED to buy a computer or tv every 2 years!
christo930 2 years ago
None of this could possibly be due to the corrupt governments these countries have, right? Their willingness to turn a blind eye to the environment and the worker is somehow America's fault, right?
When PC's were a business product and their true cost were actually paid, they were usually several thousand dollars.
christo930 2 years ago
The Chinese govt also deliberately manipulates their currency to keep it artificially low to give their workers and unfair advantage. That and their total disregard for the environment is what makes them so monetarily competitive. Remove those things and the American worker could compete.
christo930 2 years ago
"It's everyone's fault. It's natural. And we need change"
That is what I said, and am saying again; regardless of what the video says. We need to change. "their total disregard for the environment" is totally FUD, because the ones who design the products are YOU, as in "corporate America", and those who make them (i.e. "third world" countries ) often has no say over how to make them.
The American worker cannot compete because of the high standard of lifestyle— there is a minimum wage.
wikinerd 2 years ago
And the fact of the matter is, is that we are not going to do anything. China is a rich country and America is broke. I am not saying the Chinese PEOPLE are rich, but China is a creditor nation. They lend America money, not the other way around. Saying America is rich is like saying someone who has hocked everything they own to stay afloat is rich. We are broke worse than any nation on earth. What do you want us to do about it? America is broke and we have run out of stuff to hock. Good luck!
christo930 2 years ago
"China is a rich country and America is broke."
That only applies to the few who are "rich". There's another 12 billion who are poor. -just take a look at the GDP per capita...
And let me repeat, since you really are not getting grips with reality...
the ones who design the products are YOU, as in the American companies who sell them, and those who make them often has no say over how to make them.
wikinerd 2 years ago
Talk about being out of touch with reality. There are 6.8 billion people on the earth, how can China have 12 billion? You are not even remotely aware of how many people are on the earth or in China and you tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
Heres reality. America is NOT going to do it. We can't, we don't have the money. They have to deal with the problem because we won't. What about Europe and the UK? They use the shit too, let them pay. Everyone wants money from the US.
christo930 2 years ago
Oops. 12 million.
It's called product design. Take a look at Apple's new laptops or computers in general in the newest generation. it's called recyclability. It's called materials that can be easily extracted from the parts of the products.
wikinerd 2 years ago
You propose to know so much about China and yet you don't even have a clue as to the Chinese population. FTR, there are between 1.3 and 1.6 billion people in China.
Don't just watch an Anti American video and presume that we are taking advantage of the Chinese. It's simply not true. Look at it from both sides. Even if America WANTED to clean up China AND had the money to do it, how could we? They are a foreign nation. And their factories are just as responsible for design, probably more so.
christo930 2 years ago
"Anti American"?
Or just to help you find out how the exportation of ewaste to developing countries is a problem?
And why is it simply not true? Do you have reputable sources that state so?
wikinerd 2 years ago
"Even if America WANTED to clean up China AND had the money to do it, how could we? They are a foreign nation. And their factories are just as responsible for design, probably more so."
As I have said before, China is, per capita, a lot poorer than the states. Factories have no say on design, and i am repeating this over and over again. A company, say, Apple, hands plans to the contracted factories and just pays them to make them. That is how it works. plain and simple.
wikinerd 2 years ago
If China had any sense, they would take our used computers and give them to their citizens. But that is beside the point. America has no control over what they do, I can't understand why you can't see that. Do you not think that there are American recyclers that want to do the recycling? We can't compete with them because they lower costs at the cost of the environment. We did that shit up until around 70's and it took billions to clean it up. We learned our lesson, they need to learn theirs.
christo930 2 years ago
Exactly. People are giving them to recyclers with "shady" backgrounds and they send them to third world countries. There are things that Americans can do: recycle them with the manufacturers, or at least give them to well established recyclers.
And product design? it's the designer's fault... who else?
wikinerd 2 years ago
Well I certainly wouldn't oppose Chinese manufacturers and American engineers working together to make a product that is easier to recycle at the end of it's useful life. I also think that we should extend the useful life of computers in the first place. Shoddy software design, more than anything, necessitates hardware upgrades. Apple is leading the charge with Hardware design and Snow Leopard which is going to be far more efficient than any other recent Mac OS release.
christo930 2 years ago
I agree. But it's quite often the case where designs aren't as "recyclable" and "safe". And there's planned obsolescense...
wikinerd 2 years ago
"Well I certainly wouldn't oppose Chinese manufacturers and American engineers working together to make a product that is easier to recycle at the end of it's useful life. Shoddy software design, more than anything, necessitates hardware upgrades. Apple is leading the charge with Hardware design and Snow Leopard which is going to be far more efficient than any other recent Mac OS release."
But I do certainly agree with you on this
wikinerd 2 years ago
Cont'd
And when there is a minimum wage, manufacturers just go somewhere else where the supply of workers are high, such as China, India, and several other "third world" countries.
(by "third world" I meant "developing" countries. I just want to put it in context.)
wikinerd 2 years ago
It has nothing to do with a minimum wage. The minimum wage is just a political piece of shit. You will notice the MW is always well below the market value of 95% of wages affecting the lowest of tht low wages. No factory pays mw. It's cost of living. No american can work for what a chinese can work for. To say that their total disregard for their environment is fud is just silly. It's their fault and you are just anti-west and especially anti-american.
christo930 2 years ago
You're not talking sense.
Because the cost of labour is high, the companies are moving to places where there is cheap labor. That's just a fact. If workers would work for what the avg. Chinese worker works for— or less, then yeah, they would move back. (Why would they stay in China if it costs more?)
"To say that their total disregard for their environment is fud is just silly." Disprove it.
It's just that you are either misinformed, or simply blatant ignorant
wikinerd 2 years ago
Saw this exposed on 60 minutes and it was staggering.We've got to stop being enamored with useless technological SHIT!
toecutterr6 3 years ago
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johnydibu 3 years ago
we want more
themrjones 3 years ago
the following comment goes to
kimmycakes002
joincoinnetwork 3 years ago
Thank you so much for this video. It has taught me a lot about this serious issue.
happyburrito 3 years ago
Very interesting video.
I was not aware of this e-waste problem before and I was really shocked by these images from Guiyu.
In my opinion, this problem should be more covered in the media.
eRENLAI 3 years ago
great vid. btw :) very informative
kimmycakes002 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this might sound rather pigish, but atleast it went back to were it came from. Since 80% of electronics arent made in the U.S. anyway and made in places like tiawan and china, its good to see there getting the trash they made back. i really dont think its a problem on us giving them the trash that came from there in the first place,i think its the way these ppl are disposing of them, with out PPE and proper disposal habits, thats whats killing them, the lack of someone caring about there safety.
kimmycakes002 3 years ago
It's called outsourcing! Don't blame it on the lower developed countries. Most people live in poverty and NEED those jobs to survive. They don't want to make inferior products, but they HAVE to.
llN0Pell 3 years ago
products that are manufactured in china are developed and designed by firms' R&D in the US, EU and Japan. So "they" are making the trash "we" are asking them to do, cos noone in your counry would like to or do it for the same price. stop being so ignorant, wake UP! thanks for the vid, really appreciated
joincoinnetwork 3 years ago
Nicely put. Also kimmycakes002 to add to the comments before. We are responsible for this problem (U.S. and countries who send it to there) however we are sending it to them (asian countries) to do this hazardous task. They have to! People aren't aware of where they send their e-waste, if they even bother to send it away. Don't be so ignorant because we ALL are at fault. We should've been aware of this earlier, and PREVENTED it. Like my fater always says "The prevention is better than the cure."
sweeterthanhunni 3 years ago
It's not our fault that they chose to poison their environment. They put us out of work making it, then they put us out of work recycling it. We could do it, and do it clean, but we can't compete financially, because we would do it clean and they just pollute. I say screw em. They made it, let them get it back.
christo930 3 years ago
That's such a selfish thing to say. Fine, you know what I won't help you, but tohers need to help countries like China. We are asking them to make such things, and what are you talking about? "You put Americans out of work"? What do you mean "out of work" because they do minimum age work to provide for their families and then import it to China?!! We are one world if you haven't realized, it's "all for one" not "every man for himself". With that kind of moral we will be 'screwed'.
sweeterthanhunni 3 years ago
Why are we responsible for what they do to their environment? What we should do is DEMAND that they conform to environmental standards since all that black water ends up in the sea that we share with them. If they conformed to environmental standards, they wouldn't be able to underbid us anymore and put us out of work at the cost of the environment. While we are at it, we should DEMAND they treat the worker humanely and allow him/her to work safely. Then we could really be on even grounds.
christo930 3 years ago
The US is responsible because by law it is LEGAL to do so.
Western ideals simply DON'T WORK in China, there's too much poverty, and if you've been there and experienced it first hand, you'll know how hard people work at anything to make a few pennies. It's a struggle for survival, you just can't say "The government just needs to handle it better". People who are poor and driven by a survival instinct to commit these environmental atrocities. Demands mean shit, recall the student protest of 1989.
Konkaver 2 years ago
The student protests of 1989 were successful. They are what led to the reforms that have turned China into a economic super power. They have the money and the resources. We on the other hand, are broke and in debt to our ears. WE are not responsible for what THEY do.
christo930 2 years ago
Blame Bill Gates.
BroadCastTuber 3 years ago
We the Human Being Destroying the Beautiful Earth and for that we can not blame others but us. Our lavish lifestyle and over use of technology making the nature in stake indeed.
I am using a laptop to type this... Isnt it also unnecessary ? we can live on without this crap things. its true It make the life easier and its potentiality is undeniable but have we ever thought about the long run effect of this ????
loosemakertube 3 years ago
How can people use so much energy, aren't they interested in being able to breathe?
mermaidgirl560 3 years ago
I think there needs to be education on primary level on right and wrong and how to help in realtime. Good knowledge is the most important thing, also happiness. Fortunately we are all different and what may seem unlivable to us may be fine to others. I think that it's more fun to be with people, travel and experience diffent cultures, also to read than to buy things.
mermaidgirl560 3 years ago
Of course the manufacturing countries have to be clean. I know from personal experience how dangerous toxic chemicals are. You don't realize that it affects you but it does. The most important thing I believe is too focus on the good options.
mermaidgirl560 3 years ago
It's not like the US is dropping this stuff from air planes. it's greedy Chinese business men who don't care about china buying this stuff for the gold and other materials.
Thewhip77 3 years ago
Its not greedy Chinese businessmen who BUY this crap, it's greedy Americans in the waste disposal business who PAY Chinese to dispose of the toxic material without caring about its proper disposal.
Waste disposal is like any other business - there's a cost of doing business! Rather than invest part of their revenues to tool-up and become efficient businessmen, they just take in money for trash disposal, but spend less than what is needed for its proper disposal - they're cheaters!
OnePeopleOneChina 3 years ago 2
I have bought and discarded so much of this trash myself. A big part of the problem is planned obsolesce by the manufacturers.
nncoco 3 years ago 2
This is an excellent video and e-waste is a very real and serious problem which we can discuss without arguing and insulting each other.
Patriot5480 3 years ago
America AND CHINA IS THE ORIGIN OF CRIME
shenshiping 3 years ago
Some of the "cool Video" this guy shows is perfectly recyclable glass tubes. You can go online and find that we DO recycle tubes such as are thrown out on the trash in China. And other images you see are not even ewaste. Just household trash. So this guy tries to blame US for poor Chinese practices. Then shows how stupid the chinese are and blames American consumers. You fellows need to get a grip on reality. Stop living in fantasy land.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
Also USA is not a strong supporter of the guidelines on MPPI since it is a flawed law. Denmark was actually trying to use the law to stop the scrapping of a ship in India that contained asbestos. But India has it's own rules on asbestos and has every right to scrap a ship. Denmark just wanted to force the owner into bankruptcy. So the law can be misapplied. It is supposed to be about cell phones remember? But then you don't seem too concerned with reality.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
You are highly blessed with IGNORANCE. Are you telling me Denmark alone was the sole signatory to the MPPI? Do you know the MPPI was signed by different Member States in the US? If the US is not a strong supporter of the MPPI guidelines, why has the US delayed a drafting a singular guideline of its own on Electronic waste policy? Even in the UK, there is the IPR which has come into the law which is to supplement the WEEE, RoHS directive. Get a reality check john.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
alot of the trash this video shows is not even ewaste. It's just regional trash. And USA does have shops that recycle clean ewaste. If these third world countries did not take our ewaste we would have resources to better use our ewaste. I say outlaw exporting ewaste and let's do it ourselves. We can do better than these third world monkeys.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
You are recklessly ignorant. Who are the third world monkeys? Why are you this ridiculously daft?
Ask yourself, what do you do with your used electronic product? Do not tell me that you had been sensible to know how to properly recycle your used WEEE.
I told you I conducted a research on heavy metals in soil and there was an appreciable amount of Pb, Hg present in the soil, in which, if traced back can be attributed to dumping metals in soils.
I expect you to humor with your ignorance again.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
You did testing? ya i bet. I have yet to throw a used computer or cell phone in the trash. In fact I recycled two old computers. Or rather used one to fix up another one and upgraded it with xp and gave to my housekeeper. She and her six kids were very happy to finally have a home computer. I guess that was ignorant of me huh? and I sold the spare parts to a computer repairman. there was only one damaged part. It was a processor. What he did with it I have no idea. The frame went to scrap metal.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
Another hogwash of yours again. Do you know the guidelines on the MPPI under the Basel Convention of 2003 was done in the USA, while at the same time, the USA does not have any singular legislation on WEEE? DO you know the USA produces 17million tonnes of WEEE annually?
Your ignorance is blissful. March on with it.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
"The EU's WEEE & RoHS Directives are complex pieces of legislation. In publishing these web pages, the U.S. Department of Commerce aims to assist U.S. companies in selling electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to Europe" your ignorance is staggering. WEEE is a european law. of course we don't have laws on it. We have our own laws jackass. You want me to outline WEEE here? There is no space and that is not my concern. I don't export to Europe so who is a jackass? YOU!
johnknoefler 3 years ago
What is so complex with those two directives? RoHS is directed towards eliminating heavy metals usage for electronic products. Is the US failing to know that? Is that so complex to do? If you do not export to Europe, where do you export to? Can you confidently say, the US has a singular legislation that mandates all electronic producers to comply with? Even the US EPA will laugh at your ludicrous intelligence that you so much hold in high esteem. John MOOCH.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
What is the diff btw regional trash and ewaste. Now you shift the blame on third world countries when the US itself has not lived up to its responsibility. I knew you would humor me with your ignorance. Whoever invested in your education should be SUED. Monkeys are far more articulate than the bunkum you keep typing on the internet. What a waste you are. You are an educational piece of disaster.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
Envirotalk you think your abuse will make people care? On the contrary. The more abusive you are the less credit your opinions carry. This guy on the video is nothing more than a communist shill. Nothing has been shipped to China that China did not want. These people have no rules for ewaste themselves. These people abuse themselves and this guy blames USA. You do not see people doing this crap in USA because we DO have laws against it. It is you who are deluded and misguided.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
I get what your saying and I agree with it. But could you stop with all the "holier then thou" and "your ignorant" bullshit. Please try to add a strain of maturity and make youtube a little more bearable for those of use who apperciate the art of debate... thanks
mkakos 3 years ago
Hey mkakos,
I don't understand how you can say you get what he was saying and agree, and then attack him as being "holier then thou" and saying he should stop "your ignorant" bullshit.
You ask him to try and ad a strain of maturity.
I find that funny because to me, it is you and not him that is immature.
He knows of a serious challenge to people's lives and their health and the damage done to our environment.
What would you suggest he say in a video?
MLBinwa 3 years ago
im not accusing him of being anything... i just dont see what good could come out of ending or beginning a comment with "You are highly blessed with IGNORANCE"... as far as his argument is concerned... i agree.. i only see the whole "your ignorant" thing as childish... i did not mean any offense
mkakos 3 years ago
I didn't see him start out with or end with a comment like "you are highly blessed with IGNORANCE".
I felt the video was produced very well and didn't see it as an attack video.
It looked like a well researched video, I look forward to seeing him do a video, which will clearly explain some positive solutions we are doing and can do to help with all the toxic trash we are producing.
MLBinwa 3 years ago
wait a min... seems like you misunderstood my comment... it was a repsonse to envirotalks comments while he argued with johnknoefler. i have nothing agaisnt the video, i was suggesting that enviro should take a more mature direction then verbal insults... becuase he would constantly say that john is "ignorant"... get it?
mkakos 3 years ago
My bad.
I thought the comment you made was against the guy in the video.
I understand now. Thanks!
MLBinwa 3 years ago
I suggest you apply the same medicine to your senses, than suggest to me I spit ignorant bullshit. I don't even know what your point is. Hope you learn the art of articulate debating. Thanks
Envirotalk 3 years ago
I happened to have conducted a research on Heavy Metals in Soil for a Cocoa farm plantation in Nigeria, and I discovered that the amount of heavy metal content in these soil was ridiculously high.
At the moment, am working on e-waste/supply chain management for the UK, discovered some practices which encourages shipping of end-of-life electronics to third world countries eg Nigeria.
It is a shame that this will continue to grow.
Envirotalk 3 years ago
Envirotalk do you blame chocolate eaters for the heavy metals in the soil of Cocoa farms? Did it occur to you to test any virgin soil nearby as a base measurment? Your ignorance is appalling.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
Nice video. Thank you for sharing
nihon94 3 years ago
what comes around goes around, U.S sending toxic waste to china and china in return send poisonous toys to the U.S its that simple you see? so to resolve the problem one should take the 1st step to improve the matter at hand before the freakin world blows up and we all have to move to Mars hehe.
nhuhuynh 3 years ago
Where do you think Australia's e-waste is going? Stop blaming America and look at what your own country is doing.
seka1986 3 years ago
Good point.
johnknoefler 3 years ago
I can't help but think that maybe having a fundraiser to donate air type masks, or some type of safety equipment for these people to keep them safe from the fumes?
I just wish electronic based companies would just use something more environmental friendly a bit more quicker. By the time that happens it may be too little too late.
I just feel awful for these people having to go through this horrible fate.
DDStuff 3 years ago
We [the USA]need to make a deal with China. If They stop sending us poisonous TOYS and poisonous products that fall apart; we will stop sending poisonous trash to them! It works both ways.
Buy better quality stuff and keep it longer. Hire an American to fix something ie. TV or Car instead of throwing it away. Make what you have last longer such as buy a DTV converter box and keep your old TV out of the waste streem.
Sell or give away working electronic stuff you no longer want.
itbarthur4u 3 years ago
Kudos to this guy for doing this work and getting out the word. I think that this industry will clean itself up eventually, but we all need to demand green products with the electronics we buy. Vote with your wallet, and do your research.
TheBowerbird 3 years ago
Yes, we need to know what is happening to the products we bring to the recycling center. Are they actually recycling it or just shipping it to some country like China to pollute their environment over there?? The electronics industry should take back the used stuff and recycle it in an environmentally friendly way. If we have to pay a recycling fee or something, we will have to deal with it.
Srhandel 3 years ago
I am so happy the Olympics are in China, maybe the media will finally call attention to this situation. These cheap products we get from China/Asia are having a huge toll on the environment.
Srhandel 3 years ago
We consume just as mucha as the U.S. and we have 3 times the population of yours. Explain that.
kuleyonMania 3 years ago
shithole of the world
sujajajjaakakajjs 3 years ago
I remember seeing Bill Moyers on PBS reporting on this very same thing in 1989. IBM was a major bad guy then. It's a shame that nothing has changed since then.
If only people had adopted Amiga technology instead.
SaganAppreciationSoc 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
All this stuff comes from China, Chinese companies profit from the original sale, why shouldn't it go back to China? They put our workers out of a job and they expect us to import their stuff and then keep the waste? NO WAY. You built it, you get it back! Invest the profits from making it into proper recycling factories.
christo930 3 years ago
so you shouldn't be responsible for flushing your toilet?
get real, guy. It doesn't matter who builds the stuff, the consumer's still pay for it to be built.
if there wasn't a market for it, it'd never be made.
its the consumers that still send it out here when they're done.
if you go to a restaurant and your meal doesn't taste very good, you don't thereby reserve the right to throw it back in the cook's face or leave it and mess up his restaurant.
Nearlyprescient 3 years ago
That logic is crazy. The point is, is that they build it and they profit from it and they should invest some of their profits into proper recycling. Further, we don't dump it there, they PAY for it. If THEY choose to not practice environmentally responsible recycling why should we be made to look like villans. They are breaking there own laws, but it's somehow our fault.
christo930 3 years ago
How is this our fault? The point is, is that they build it and they profit from it and they should invest some of their profits into proper recycling. Further, we don't dump it there, they PAY for it. If THEY choose to not practice environmentally responsible recycling why should we be made to look like villans. They are breaking there own laws, but it's somehow our fault.
christo930 3 years ago