A proposal under debate in the U.S. Congress to ban the export of electronics waste would likely make a growing global environmental problem even worse, say authors of an article from the journal Environmental Science and Technology appearing online today. The authors call into question conventional thinking that trade bans can prevent “backyard recycling” of electronics waste – primarily old and obsolete computers – in developing countries.

Primitive recycling processes used in these countries are dispersing materials and pollutants that are contaminating air, water and soil.

“Trade bans will become increasingly irrelevant in solving the problem,” says Eric Williams, one of the authors of the article, which offers alternative ways to address the problem.

Full Article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/03/22/e.waste.trade.ban.wont.end.environmental.threat

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