Electronic Waste: Harmful U. S. Exports Flow Virtually Unrestricted Because of Minimal EPA Enforcement and Narrow Regulation

Download or read book Electronic Waste: Harmful U. S. Exports Flow Virtually Unrestricted Because of Minimal EPA Enforcement and Narrow Regulation written by John B. Stephenson and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2009-03 with total page 21 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increasingly, U.S. consumers are recycling their old electronics to prevent the environmental harm that can come from disposal. However, that some U.S. companies are exporting these items to developing countries, where unsafe recycling practices can damage health and the environment. Items with cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) are particularly harmful because they contain lead, a known toxin. In Jan. 2007, EPA began regulating the export of CRT¿s under a rule requiring companies to notify EPA before exporting CRTs. This testimony examines: (1) the fate of exported used electronics; (2) the effectiveness of regulatory controls over the export of these devices; and (3) options to strengthen fed. regulation of exported used electronics. Illus.