Reports of Toxic E-waste Entering China

Erin Spinka

Beijing -- Greenpeace and the Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) have reported that toxic electronic waste mixed in with steel and copper scrap from Japan and South Korea is entering China at its Taizhou port. The hazardous items have included computers, electronic appliances and transformer carcasses. The announcement was made at the International Conference on Electronic Waste and Producers Environmental Responsibilities in China recently held in Beijing. BAN and Greenpeace also reported that widespread informal efforts to recycle electronic waste among area farmers looking for additional income has increased pollution. The report blames countries trying to prevent toxic waste in their own territories, including Japan and the United States, for taking advantage of China’s growing involvement in the scrap industry.