Another Hypothesis: There were basically Four Types of USA Computer Monitor / Electronics Recycling in the decade past:
California was an example of Good Idiots. There was little incentive to export good monitors to good companies when California taxpayers were shellling out 48 cents per pound to break them into pieces to put on the ground.
The Taiwanese were the earliest investors in Guangdong. They have been enormously helpful in Mexico, South America, and Africa. I keep running into Taipei Geeks all over the world, and they deserve a huge shout out. Anyone who says "manufacturer takeback" and describes Taiwan as Guiyu is a certified laughingstock.
- Honest companies with under 5% reuse. They don't do the homework on the testing and reuse market, they shred everything ("good idiots")
- Companies that ship for refurb off-site, like mine, which achieve 25% reuse and are proud of it. (honest and good)
- Companies that ship for refurb off-site, like mine, which achieve 25% reuse, and claim testing and everything is done in the USA ("good liars")
- Companies that ship enough good stuff that the export market forgives the crap, allowing them to ship 65% overseas... (bad exporters)
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| Inventor of Chinese character display from CRT |
There were companies I know of that were maximizing "TAR" or Toxics Along for the Ride. They were willing to earn less for the good monitors in return for forcing along TVs and bad monitors. I knew about them from the Taiwanese buyers. Some of the worst exporters were - get this - Pledge of True Stewardship Signers!
The majority of e-waste recyclers in the past decade - About 50% of companies - were doing what I was doing (#2 and #3)... The number who were transparent and proud began shrinking under BAN's scorched earth campaign vs. reuse. And the buyers, who I visited and met with, were teaching me just about everything I know about display reuse and recycling. I go to Africa as the "American expert" and talk about things I learned in China.
