EOL IT Services: “Who is monitoring the correct disposal of redundant electrical equipment?”
Thursday, 11th March 2010: EOL IT Services, after all its years in the IT and electrical recycling industry, was still shocked to learn of the vast amount of electrical waste being dumped in Africa, especially Ghana.
In a report for the BBC programme “Inside Out” (London area) earlier this week it was revealed that tonnes of unusable electrical equipment are being shipped out illegally from the UK to Ghana where young children work in hazardous conditions to extract metals using open fires.
In addition, any information still stored on items such as computers are extracted and used for breaking in to bank accounts, stealing identities, blackmail and other illegal activities.
Richard Parker, Managing Director of EOL IT Services, said “It is a travesty that this type of illegal practice goes on but, perhaps, what is more shocking are the names of some of the organisations whose equipment was found on these dumping sites.”
“Organisations must work with reputable companies who ensure the disposal of all electrical equipment meets Environment Agency regulations including the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and the Data Protection Act 1998.”
“If the disposal deal offered seems too good to be true, then it probably is and companies could find themselves unwittingly adding to the misery of these Ghanaian children and the promotion of other illegal activities.”
EOL IT Services Ltd. is one of the UK’s leading specialists in computer recycling, WEEE disposal and data destruction. EOL holds key ISO certification, is Environment Agency approved for the treatment of WEEE and destroys data to MoD level.
For more information about any of the points raised in this article please call 01621 843535 or visit our web site www.eolitservices.co.uk.
To view the full BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0071mkv
