Title :
A Chinese town´s get-rich scheme: e-trash to cash
Abstract :
The electronic trash that most Americans deposit at center for recycling toxic materials often ends up polluting towns in developing countries. China has become the favored destination for the world´s discarded computers and peripherals and the main source of used computer parts. In 2002, China banned the import of many used electronic items due to the electronic waste and hazardous waste it´s causing. However, implementing the ban has been difficult because the shipment have created jobs for the underclass. China´s import of electronic trash has given birth to towns whose economies are completely dependent on the trade. The trade might be easier to stamp out if it weren´t actually improving the town´s economy.
Keywords :
computer peripheral equipment; economics; electronic products; environmental factors; hazardous materials; international trade; recycling; discarded computers; electronic trash; electronic waste; hazardous waste; peripherals; toxic materials; trade; used computer parts; Cities and towns; Computer networks; Computer peripherals; Electronic waste; Electronics industry; Industrial electronics; Marine vehicles; Portable computers; Recycling; Roads;
Journal_Title :
Spectrum, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MSPEC.2004.1318174