Immediately, when I read that BAN was "outing" Intercon Solutions of Chicago Heights for allegedly sending 3 sea containers of illegal "hazardous waste" to Hong Kong, China, I said... "Oh no, not again."
Intercon Press Release at bottom
First, proper recycling is more affordable than ever. Intercon is located in Illinois, a state with legislation that requires proper management of e-waste - and rewards it financially. Moreover, with the exception of CRT glass, it has never been more profitable to disassemble and recycle circuit boards. Umicore, one of the best end markets for dismantled circuit boards, is already having a record year, with shortages of rare earth metals and other proper recycling paying for themselves. In short, there are few if any incentives for an established company to ship 80% of e-waste to Guiyu.
Second - BAN, I recalled, had "created" news 17 months previous, by alerting Indonesian officials that sea containers headed to a very respectable, ISO14001, refurbishing factory contained "hazardous waste". Indonesia reacted as the USA would react to being told a container held anthrax - they shipped the container back to the USA, unopened. BAN ran a press release announcing a great victory.
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| The Watchdog's New "E-Stewards" Clothes |
First, proper recycling is more affordable than ever. Intercon is located in Illinois, a state with legislation that requires proper management of e-waste - and rewards it financially. Moreover, with the exception of CRT glass, it has never been more profitable to disassemble and recycle circuit boards. Umicore, one of the best end markets for dismantled circuit boards, is already having a record year, with shortages of rare earth metals and other proper recycling paying for themselves. In short, there are few if any incentives for an established company to ship 80% of e-waste to Guiyu.
Second - BAN, I recalled, had "created" news 17 months previous, by alerting Indonesian officials that sea containers headed to a very respectable, ISO14001, refurbishing factory contained "hazardous waste". Indonesia reacted as the USA would react to being told a container held anthrax - they shipped the container back to the USA, unopened. BAN ran a press release announcing a great victory.
