Pc, Mobile Phone Makers Must Reclaim E-waste

[george]

Consumers say PC, mobile phone makers must reclaim e-waste

BANGKOK: -- Having faced natural disasters in the form of tsunamis and floods, Thailand now faces man-made toxic disasters through e-contamination, as urban centres are polluted with computer and mobile phone refuse.

"Toxics Inside, Lifestyle in Trouble", mounted by international NGO Greenpeace, details the toxic threat to Thailand's future, is featured at the Commart X'Gen 2006 exhibition at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center June 8-12.

Local environmental observers say the exhibition, held in parallel with Thailand's celebration of its environmentally-concerned monarch, will raise public awareness of the harmful impacts of e-waste on human health and the environment.

At the Greenpeace booth, consumers can learn which harmful chemicals are used in PCs and mobile phones as well as which brands have policies to remove hazardous chemicals from their products.

As sales of personal computers continue to grow, a majority of Thais surveyed (over 1,000 persons age 15 and older) earlier this year think computer equipment and cellphone manufacturers must deal with the rapidly rising volumes of hazardous e-waste.

Growing quantities of hazardous e-waste are being imported into Thailand from developed countries for so-called recycling, contributing to a toxic time-bomb.

A hi-tech telephone survey using CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone interviewing) by UK-based Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, reports that two-thirds of urban Thais--64 per cent--think it is the manufacturers' responsibility to deal with waste from PCs.

The research is part of a wider survey in nine countries worldwide.

"Thailand is facing an e-waste problem, and it is right for consumers to hold companies responsible for the computers they sell," according to Kittikhun Kittiaram of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. "We don't want mountains of e-waste in our country."

A more promising finding from the survey? Most Thais are willing to pay as much as Bt 5000 more for an environmentally-friendly PC.

"It's good to know that Thais are showing their concern about the e-waste problem and are even willing to pay to help solve problems in our environment. It's time for the IT industry to seize this opportunity for a new wave of innovation which protects our health and environment.

"Companies must establish take back policies and eliminate hazardous chemicals from computer manufacturing," said Kittikhun.

Greenpeace has warned of a mounting e-waste problem which are now accumulating in junkyards and dirty recycling operations in Thailand.

In 2003, the estimated weight of Thailand's e-waste was around 58,000 tonnes. The amount of e-waste is projected to increase at the rate of 12 per cent annually, with an estimated 3 million pieces of electronic waste will be produced in 2006.

The looming e-waste problem is becoming more evident as sales of PCs in Thailand are expected to boom. By early 2005, more than 2.6 million computers were already in place in Thai households--about 15.5 units for every 100 households.

Combined sales of PCs for 2004 and 2005 soared to 2.6 million units, doubling the potential amount of computer garbage.

Growing quantities of hazardous e-waste are being imported into Thailand from developed countries for so-called recycling, contributing to a toxic time-bomb.

Greenpeace is an independent advocary organisation which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, to force the solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.

--TNA 2006-06-07

[Phil Conners]

A more promising finding from the survey? Most Thais are willing to pay as much as Bt 5000 more for an environmentally-friendly PC.

5000 baht? They must have been smoking illegal substances. European consumers have for some time had to pay 1-2 EUR (50-100 baht) as a recycling-fee to cover the recycling cost. If Europe can do it for this I'm sure it will not be more expensive here!

Anyway, I recall a survey made by one of the big burger chains, I think Mc Donald, which found consumers asking for more salads and green and healthy products -- but when they were offered they were non-sellers. One thing is what people will tell you - and probably even believe - but when they have to fork over the cash reality is often quite different.

Edited June 7, 2006 by madsere