E-waste special, reporting back on Panorama’s Track My Trash

Did you get to see last night’s Panorama, Track my Trash? What did you think? We would love to hear your feedback.

It’s times like this that make this job really worthwhile. I’ve been amazed by the reactions of the public and industry to EIA’s report “System Failure: The UK’s harmful trade in electronic waste” and last night’s Panorama. I think the programme did a great job of explaining this huge problem and our responsibility as consumers to ensure that our old junk doesn’t end up poisoning children in developing countries. EIA was involved with the programme from its inception and I think it’s been a good example of successful collaboration.

But our work doesn’t stop here, now that our findings have been published we will follow up the investigation in order to push for real change in how the UK handles its electronic waste. We plan to engage with industry to encourage them to clean up their act, to work on improving the enforcement of existing regulations and to look into fixing the systematic failings that have led to the colossal environmental problem. We also waiting to see what the Environment Agency’s reaction to our work will be.

South London Waste Partnership has made a statement in response.

If you’re concerned about the fate of your e-waste here are a few tips and questions you ask:

•  The biggest way to reduce the harmful impacts of e-waste is to reduce the amount of electronic goods we throw out. Before updating your laptop or mobile phone, please think about whether you really do need a new one, often we tend to get rid of perfectly functional electronic items just to keep up with the latest trends.
• If you do have an old item that you want to get rid of try internet recycling networks like Freecycle.
•  If you do have e-waste that you want to dispose of try to find out whether the company disposing of the goods or your local council recycling site audits the trail of all electronic goods left in their care.
•  Some councils will contract reuse companies to repair and reuse items left at their recycling sites. EIA totally supports the reuse of electronic goods but our investigations showed that some reuse companies don’t test and repair broken TVs before exporting them. If your local council uses a reuse company the company should supply details of how many electronic goods they were able to repair and export and how many they had to send for recycling and the final destinations of all those electronic goods.

• @Sarafino1: I work in the Recycling Industry but not electricals, so have to say shocked!
• @NAbeyie_x:  I was rather surprised, I didn’t think something like that went on.. Its good to know
• @EmilyvonR: I thought it was a depressing insight into what is going on but I wonder if people will now be put off from recycling…
• @amiemiddleton: It was difficult to watch as some companies try to do the right thing and are held up at every stage by gov bodies!
• @Crook3rs: Very good programme last night raising awareness of the illegal dumping of e-waste. Should be heightened as not something most people would be aware of ordinarily. Also very moving programme, highlighting the damage to the environment and health of people in the regions involved.
• @ITSAmanda: I do so hope your report helps to make a positive difference. Will watch panorama 2nite on iplayer
• @Hayleybowcock: Govt must do more to stop illegal eWaste exports
• @Wonder_Woman16: Panorama was amazing very shocking!!! Can’t believe Croydon was mentioned.
• Jackie: Good programme, I am sure most people will be shocked by this trade
• Ralph: I have several items of electronic gear stored in the attic. What should I do with them?
• Tom: I read about this in the Observer yesterday, and I have now also seen the Panorama programme. I live in Croydon so this report is of local relevance and I hope to take this to my local green party for further action.
• Jeff: I would like to congratulate you on the recent investigation into the illegal export of e-waste.
• Simon: Good work, EIA.