More companies and recyclers continue to take steps of ensuring that TV and computers are not damped in poor countries. Basel Action Network is a Seattle-based group that has exposed the practice of electronic waste disposal into developing countries by the US.

On Thursday, this group launched a new program in which third party auditors are to certify recyclers who do not export hazardous e-waste.

These so-called eSteward recyclers are also going to agree that they will not damp any wastes in any US landfills as well as other criteria.

This certification is aimed at providing consumers and companies with an assurance that this waste, which includes toxins such as mercury and lead, is always disposed of safely.

The Basel network adds that it has won assurances from a whooping 13 companies, including Bank of America, Samsung, Wells Fargo, National Resources Defense Council, and Capitol One Financial.
To this day, Basel has already certified seven sites and three recyclers.

Before eStewards, even those companies with an intention of avoiding export of various electronic wastes was always forced to just ‘hope for the best’ after handing their accumulated wastes to the handlers.
Basel’s standards are in competition with another set that was launched in January. This set was industry-crafted and it had the backing of Environmental Protection Agency.

That standard, which was dubbed R-2, does not ban export of hazardous e-waste, but rather, requires safe handling measures to be put in place. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries notes that rather than impose a ban, efforts need to be made in helping poor countries perform safe recycling tasks.

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