Recent press coverage has highlighted the extent of the illegal e-waste export of millions of items of e-waste from the UK and Europe that end up dumped in the developing world. Tony Roberts, founder & chief executive of Computer Aid International, calls upon EU and UK governments to find the necessary resources to put an end to the activity.
The BBC story highlights the inadequate nature of existing legislation and resources available for combating illegal e-waste exports.
Agencies that promote reuse and recycling within the UK and prevent the export of e-waste, such as the Environment Agency and the WEEE Advisory Board, should be guaranteed the necessary resources to fulfill these essential duties properly
Tony Roberts, founder and CEO, Computer Aid International
Taking into account the growing international concern about e-waste it is shocking that the government is making cuts to the relevant environmental bodies. Defra, which funds the Environment Agency, has to make £162 million in cuts and the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment Advisory Board (WAB) has been axed altogether.
The Environment Agency is Defra's industry watchdog and has the job of overseeing and policing the implementation of the European WEEE Directive. Cuts to Defra reduce the Environment Agency's ability to effectively police the activities of e-waste cowboys and hinders the prosecution of environmental criminals.
The budget cuts could not have come at a worse or more sensitive time for the Environment Agency, as it has recently made significant progress in clamping down on environmental criminals in breach of the WEEE Directive. A number of arrests have been made, with successful prosecutions for dumping and illegal trading in e-waste.
Harmful trade
Cutting back on the policing of environmental crime, just as real headway was being made, is a false economy and is likely to give a green light to the e-waste cowboys to continue this harmful trade.
Agencies that promote reuse and recycling within the UK and prevent the export of e-waste, such as the Environment Agency and the WEEE Advisory Board, should be guaranteed the necessary resources to fulfill these essential duties properly.
There are many reputable organisations such as Computer Aid, who are licensed and inspected by the Environment Agency, that offer responsible reuse and recycling of equipment and provide the compliance certification relating to the Environment Act, WEEE Directive and Data Protection Legislation. Computer Aid also advocates the added benefits of extending the life of all donated equipment through professional refurbishment and reuse in schools and hospitals in the developing world.
Computer Aid campaigns internationally against the export of e-waste; for the reuse of working equipment in education and development programs, and for the proper recycling of all Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
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