e waste

two arguments

economic and environmental

lawtence summer - economic argument

thinks that hic should dump toxic waste in lic

environmental argument

comcentration of persistamt organic pollutants poisoned the areas surrounding dump site, killing wildlife

pattern of global waste 

international trade flows of waste - global north exported to in global south 

factors affecting waste and magnitude

geograpic location

degree of industrialisation 

level of integration into global economy

why is waste a major trading good

non hazardous waste contains valuable secondary raw materical

natural resource is scarce so importance of these growing

largest exporter of non hazardous waste

EU

why do some countries have large internaional flows of waste

environmental policies

cost of recycling

lack of capacity for disposal or recycle in exporting countries

demand for resource in importing countries

use of waste as energy source

increasing awareness of value of waste

trade agreements between countries

burn for power

more space to store waste than counties that produce it eg singapore

ocean currents

gragile states with limited political and economic power

known and suspected routes of e-waste dumping.

From more developed countries to developing countries

What is e-waste?

discarded electronic appliances

Why are electronics designed for the dump?

making stuff to be thrown away quickly so more profit

Moore’s Law

processor speed doubles approximately every 18 months

health problems linked to the production of our electronics.

Miscarriages

Die from brain and kidney cancer

What impact does our e-waste have on countries with weaker environmental controls?

shifts the environmental and health burdens onto vulnerable populations

Toxic air pollution

Wide-spread contamination

Bioaccumulation