Comments on: Video: Ghana a Literal ‘Digital Dumping Ground’

By: Computer Recycling and Disposal

Computer Recycling and Disposal — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:25:03 +0000

Dumping of equipment in this was is illegal in the EU, but I am sure some of it is done anyway in an attempt to bypass the processing/dumping costs in the UK. If equipment is completely beyond repair and refurbishment it should be sent on to an Approved, Authorised Treatement Facility (AATF).

By: LG Archer

LG Archer — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:06:20 +0000

In light of this video, I am proud to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

The company I work for (Acorn Computer Recycling CIC) in the United Kingdom provides a local service for collection and recycling of electronic products.
We are a non-profit “Comunity Interest Company” which relies on public donations.
We intercept the electronic waste before any unorthodox and illegitimate companies can cause more problems by disposing of waste overseas.
We refurbish working equipment and dismantle/recycle non-functional products and dispose of them according to the WEEE directive.

We will be referring to the Digital Dumping Ground video from time to time to bring awareness of the situation to as many people as possible and we hope to make a change to this world for the better.

The children of Ghana deserve so much more.

By: Bismark Parker

Bismark Parker — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:14:24 +0000

It is very clear that Ghana as a country does not have a working environmental sanitation focus which could help contol the influx of these e-waste materials. All the attention is on creating jobs and not the negative impact of such materials. Very old computers and other electronic gadgets are imported without a thought of how to dispose off the material after usage.

By: Robin Ingenthron

Robin Ingenthron — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:40:50 +0000

Wait, this is half the story. As a former state recycling director, former Peace Corps volunteer, MBA and BA in International Relations, I’m increasingly alarmed at the one-sidedness of this coverage. The containerloads being unloaded in the Greenpeace Ghana films clearly show 80% working and repairable equipment, which coincides with A) the only way to afford shipping costs, and B) the relative lack of ewaste in the burning pictures as compared to the container pictures. WR3A analysis is that 30% of the containers in Africa are obsolete and non-repairable. This calls for reform, not hysteria. Fair Trade Coffee, not a coffee boycott. Find some Youtube videos (search “WR3A” or “Fair Trade Recycling” which make intellectual sense. I mean, thank you and please still show the ones above, “toxics along for the ride” is unacceptable. But hyping a poster child is 1970s environmentalism.

By: Ghana, an E-Waste Graveyard

Ghana, an E-Waste Graveyard — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:10:04 +0000

[...] PBS Frontline investigated the e-waste disposal situation in Ghana, which has gotten so bad that some locals call the area “Sodom and Gomorrah”. [...]

By: Too Much

Too Much — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:58:01 +0000

This insidious activity in dealing with our American waste is showing severe consequences in our digital security and backlash from overseas. And we wonder why we are so hated by the informed inhabitants of less fortunate countries around the world. Our example of “democracy” to these people only enforces the idea as “freedom to exploit the unfortunate and the disadvantaged.” I am ashamed.

By: Haley Paul

Haley Paul — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:02:45 +0000

Stories such as these about e-waste in the developing world bring to light the impact that globalization is having. We need to do our part in the U.S. to research where we dispose of our e-waste so it does not end up in places such as Ghana, where the environmental degradation and the health impacts (especially on children) occur with little consequence. Great videos.