The United Nations tackles the E-waste

After the Eco-design Directive of the European Parliament, it was the turn of the United Nations to tackle the problem of waste technology. More comprehensive than the European initiative, called STEP this approach aims to solve the problem of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) throughout the life span of these materials. After having been singled out by environmentalists associations, such as the ringing denunciation of Greenpeace which had forced the company to react Apple, several large industrial groups, have joined this project supported by prestigious universities. Presentation of this unique partnership.

Industrialists, scientists and engineers should work together to maximize recycling, reduce the amount of toxic or harmful to the environment. It must be said that these wastes which quantity believes three times faster than the rest of household wastes contain potent pollutants: lead, arsenic sometimes, antimony, brominated flame retardants, selenium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt and mercury, and so on. Highly toxic, they represent a threat to the environment if they are not recycled. From big names in electronics sector as Ericsson, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft for the best known are associated with this approach. Driven by a motivation virtuous but also by the fear of being stigmatized shown by civil society, these companies viellent their images. Mobilization lasting or mercantile? Time will tell.