WR3A Fair Trade Recycling: E-Waste

How to constructively improve e-waste exports through fair trade. WR3A members ship carefully inspected used electronics and offer financial incentives for overseas buyers to improve working conditions. A coffee boycott doesn't help farmers, and "zero exports" doesn't help skilled technicians in developing countries avoid bad ewaste sellers.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

[Prodigalozzy]

People should be able to see both sides of the coin. Some of the good-intentioned organizations that talk about electronics recycling only focus on the negative side of recycling, which a) can be avoided/prevented and b) is such a small part of this compared to the benefits that electronics recycling bring to both the exporting and the importing countries. You create jobs on both sides and are able to provide affordable electronics to people that otherwise would not have the money to buy these.

[borenj]

Great video! A much needed insight into the need for responsible export and allowing a fair and transparent market to exist for electronics reuse and repair.

[retroworks1]

The Malaysian factory reinvested WR3A income into ISO9000, ISO14001, full Malaysia EPA permitting, and became a recycler for their township.  That's a win-win.