In spite of new legislation and stricter control and monitoring measures, an enormous amount of computer waste is still being exported to third world countries. We get telephone calls on a daily basis from illegal traders – from the Netherlands as well as from abroad – offering us excellent prices for our computer waste. Under no condition will IT-recycling contribute to such practices.
Export of computer waste is unacceptable.
We think the export of defective computers and computer materials, to be recycled in third world countries, is a disgrace. Recycling in third world countries usually takes place in unacceptable manners. It often even involves child labour. It is therefore essential that the depreciated hardware is processed within the Netherlands and according to our Dutch environmental standards. Our government in The Hague shares this opinion, which is why the WEEELABEX certification has been a requirement for companies that process depreciated hardware since July 2015.
IT-recycling is one of the first to have obtained this certification and we are authorised to pick up computer waste, destroying data and testing and procuring computer hardware.
Unfortunately, in spite of the introduction of WEEELABEX and increased control, we have seen that much computer waste is still being exported. Companies that clearly put financial gain ahead of their responsibility for the environment and society are guilty of this. Many shipments full of computer waste still arrive in third world countries on a daily basis. The consequences for man and the environment are disastrous.
We are even prepared to suggest that a substantial amount of the computer waste that is collected in the Netherlands goes directly to third world countries.
Export of computer waste is easy to prevent.
You can easily prevent these scandalous practices by abiding by the law. Always hire a WEEELABEX company to dispose of your computer waste. That provides a 100% guarantee that none of your waste will be dismantled by children on some disgusting dumpsite in Nigeria
