Note: This post was written by SEI staff member, Amy Cade.
With a huge problem like e-waste it is hard to know where to begin. Lets start by asking how much e-waste is exported. Seems simple enough. We can then decide if the exportation of e-waste should be of major concern.
The Basel Action Network (BAN) claims that the amount of e-waste being exported is big. In one of their videos, they vaguely implied that a lot of e-waste recyclers export the equipment they receive. They said, “plenty of companies…” “the vast majority…” and “all too often…” e-waste recyclers export computers. BAN also interviewed a politician in Nigeria who estimated that 75% of the computer equipment that comes into his country is not in good enough shape for use and is therefore e-waste.