Nine charged in e-scrap raid
The UK Environment Agency has charged nine people with violating the country's ban on exporting electronic waste for disposal. The agency spent the past two years investigating a web of individuals and companies that allegedly shipped broken electronics to Nigeria, Ghana and other African nations, to avoid the costs of recycling in the UK. The offending items included broken computers and display devices, mobile phones, separated circuit boards and e-plastics.The dragnet is the culmination of a two-year investigation by the UK Environment Agency, which uncovered multiple individuals and companies spanning both Europe and Africa. The individuals were all charged under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and European Waste Shipment Regulations 2006, and could face fines and up to two years in prison each if convicted. A court date has been scheduled for November.
The UK raid is the most recent in a steady stream of e-waste enforcement actions. Other major cases that attracted headlines include the arrest of three executives from e-waste firm Tung Tai in connection with the illegal export of electronics from the U.S. to China in August. Another major UK case, involved the illegal export of electronic waste from the UK to Brazil last year.
The article above shows some of the repercussions for illegally shipping e-waste overseas. This, among many other reasons, is why Computer Crusher Recycling Company vigorously investigates its downstream to ensure the computer electronics do not end up in these countries unnecessarily.
It is our downstream guarantee which makes it easy to recycle with Computer Crusher Recycling Company with confidence. You can be sure your electronics will not end up in a river in China with your company's asset tags emblazoned all over the units.
