HP BANS E-WASTE EXPORTS

[Anonymous]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/hp-follows-dells-lead-bans-ewaste-exports.php
HP BANS E-WASTE EXPORTS
A little less than a year ago, Dell announced that it was not
going to export e-waste to developing countries – a corporate policy
that is only surprising in that every single electronics manufacturer
doesn’t already have it on the books. While it seems like an obvious
part of acting as a responsible company, it’s a notion that has yet to
make it into more companies’ consciousness. However, thankfully HP is
stepping up and following Dell’s lead. They’ve just updated their
corporate policy to include a ban on sending e-waste from rich nations
into poor nations to be dismantled.The Environmental Leader reports that
HP’s new version of its e-waste policy now states that “HP does not
permit electronic waste to be exported from developed (member) countries
in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
and the European Union (EU) to developing (non-OECD/EU) countries,
either directly or through intermediaries.”

While non-hazardous
materials – as defined by the Basel Action Network – and equipment
intended for donation or resale can be exported, any e-waste that is
toxic in nature will be tracked through the recycling chain as it is
processed by responsible recyclers who are audited by HP on an annual
basis to make sure they conform to social and environmental
responsibility (SER) policies.

Typically when manufacturers or
policy makers create standards like this, they leave a little wiggle
room to bend the rules. However, even the Electronics Take-Back
Coalition and the Basel Action Network are applauding HP, showing that
the company has made a strong move.”This announcement shows that
HP is an environmental leader in this industry,” said Barbara Kyle,
Electronics TakeBack Coalition National Coordinator, in a press release.
“Companies managing e-waste need strict programs in place to prevent
pushing our problems on developing nations and to stem the stream of
toxic waste. With this policy, HP is making a commitment to do their
part to stop the global dumping of e-waste.”

While this is a
no-brainer move and is frustrating that it isn’t yet universal, we have
to give props where they’re due. And both Dell and now HP deserve
applause for being more proactive on e-waste than much of the
electronics industry. It’s wonderful to see companies stepping up, and
now there’s even less of a reason for other companies to not do the
same. Though stronger regulation and enforcement is still needed on the
part of the government to ensure that companies less forward-thinking as
Dell and HP cannot export toxic gadgets to e-waste dumps.”The U.S.
doesn’t have laws that make it illegal to dump our e-waste on developing
nations,” said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action
Network (BAN), a global watchdog group on toxic trade, that has produced
films and reports exposing the global e-waste dumping problem. “HP
should be commended for this new policy, which goes beyond U.S. laws.”

[Author]

March 1, 2010 at 11:12 AM