HP (NYSE: HPQ) updated its policy on electronic waste last week, banning its export from developed countries, like the U.S., to any developing country.
The company said it is committed to responsibly disposing of all e-waste generated by HP’s global operations and take-back programs.
Specifically HP will not export non-working electronic equipment or parts from developed to developing nations, unless they are deemed non-hazardous, according to definitions under the Basel Convention – an international treaty on toxic waste trade.
The Electronics TakeBack Coalition, which promotes responsible recycling and green design in the electronics industry, applauded the announcement.
“This announcement shows that HP is an environmental leader in this industry,” said Barbara Kyle, Electronics TakeBack Coalition National Coordinator. “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.”
HP said e-waste processed by the company and its authorized vendors is tracked and documented throughout the entire chain of custody until final disposition. HP audits its recycling, refurbishment and processing vendors annually to ensure they conform to its vendor requirements for hardware reuse and recycling and supply chain social and environmental responsibility (SER) policies.
“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.”
An August 2008 report by the Government Accountability Office found that “a substantial amount ends up in countries such as China and India, where they are often handled and disposed of unsafely. These countries often lack the capacity to safely handle and dispose of used electronics if the units are not in reusable condition when received, and the countries’ extremely low labor costs and the reported lack of effective environmental controls make unsafe recycling commonplace.”
Much of these exports are made labeled for reuse, supposedly to “bridge the digital divide.” But a 2005 film and report by the Basel Action Network, Digital Dump: Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa, found that of the estimated 500 40-foot containers shipped to Lagos, Nigeria each month, as much as 75% of the imports are “junk” and are not economically repairable or marketable.
“It’s important that HP is taking voluntary steps to make sure the e-waste they control isn’t getting dumped on poor countries, but there will still be millions of pounds of e-waste exported by others each year, unless Congress takes action to stop it,” said Barbara Kyle. “We urge Congress to pass legislation modeled on HP’s policy, that ensures that we aren’t exporting our e-waste problem to other countries.”
Last year, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) announced a similar standard, stating that it was the first major computer manufacturer to do so.
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