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Welcome to the Basel Action Network – BAN

e-Stewards – Do the Right Thing: Use ONLY e-Stewards - Responsible Recyclers for your Computer! – Find a Responsible e-Cycler!

TOP STORY

PBS Frontline features BAN and e-Stewards in
"Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground" – Watch the Video

Stop Dumping Techno-Trash on Developing Countries!

6-24-09

Activists Urge Consumers, Manufacturers
and Retailers to Use Only Ethical "e-Steward" Recyclers

24 June 2009 (Seattle) - The Basel Action Network (BAN), a leading global advocate for responsible toxic management practices, today called on consumers, manufacturers and retailers of computers and electronics to make a commitment to never allow their old e-waste to go to recyclers that will simply export it to developing countries.

Read the Media Release - 6-24-09

Warning: Digital Conversion May Result in Tsunami of Toxic TV Exports to Developing Countries

6-12-09

Consumers urged to use only qualified
"e-Stewards" recyclers

12 June 2009 (Seattle, WA.) - The toxic waste watchdog organization, the Basel Action Network (BAN), is warning consumers to be extremely careful about where they take their old TVs for recycling following the nationwide conversion from analog-to-digital broadcasting. They are urging consumers to only use qualified e-Steward recyclers, the only list identifying electronic waste recyclers that will not export toxic TVs and other electronic waste to a developing country.

Read the Media Release - 6-12-09

News Stories:
Some See E-Waste Crisis Trailing Switch to Digital TV - 6-15-09

EPA Files Legal Action against Exporter of e-Waste Following Toxic Trade Watchdog Investigation

6-10-09

Humane Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation warned that e-waste would be dumped in poor nations, decided to move forward anyway

10 June 2009 (Seattle, WA.) - The Environmental Protection Agency filed a legal Complaint and Compliance Order late last week against EarthEcycle, the electronic waste handler for several charity e-waste collection events held in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in recent days. The events include those run by two Humane Society branches, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Boy Scout Troop 30 will hold such a collection event tomorrow.

Read the Media Release - 6-10-09

EPA Legal Complaint:

U.S. EPA - In the Matter of: EarthEcycle, LLC., - Complaint, Compliance Order and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing - EPA Docket No. RCRA-HQ-2009-0001 / Filed 2009 Jun-5

BAN Media Releases:
Fake Recycling Events in Pittsburgh Uncovered - 5-26-09
EarthECycle’s Statements to the Press Rebutted - 5-26-09

BAN & ETBC Research Report:

The EarthECycle Pittsburgh "Recycling" Scam

News Stories:
Stash of controversial e-waste to be hauled - 6-24-09
Workers say recycler dumped monitors - 6-12-09
EPA takes action against electronics recycler - 6-11-09
EPA files complaint against electronics recycling firm - 6-10-09
Electronic waste recycler to empty Monroeville warehouse - 6-8-09
New doubts raised over electronics recycling - 6-3-09
Toxic Fraud - 6-1-09
Few Rules for Recycling Electronics - 5-31-09
Don't Be Duped by E-Cycling Scams - 5-28-09

ANAB Announces Accreditation for Ethical e-Stewards Electronics Recycling Certification

6-4-09

First Certification to halt the Exportation of
e-Waste to Developing Countries

4 June 2009 (Seattle, WA.) - The Basel Action Network (BAN) joined the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) today in announcing the launch of ANAB accreditation for the certifying bodies that will audit and certify the e-Stewards Certification program. At the heart of the new e-Stewards Certification is an ethical ‘gold standard’ for responsible electronic equipment recycling – the only such standard that will finally put a stop to the export of toxic electronic waste to developing countries; the use of prison and child labor; and the dumping of toxic materials into our local landfills.

Read the Media Release - 6-4-09

News Stories:
Electronics Recycling Certification May Halt Unethical Practices - 6-17-09
Ethical Electronics Recycling Certifiers Can Now Be Accredited - 6-12-09

New "Ship Recycling" Convention Legalizes Scrapping Toxic Ships on Beaches of Poor Countries

5-15-09

Photos:
Shipbreaking-01.jpg
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Videos:
Ship_Breaking.wmv

"A major step backwards"

15 May 2009 (Hong Kong) - At a United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting this morning, human rights, labour and environmental organisations denounced a newly adopted international Convention on Ship Recycling as a failure, saying it would perpetuate hazardous and polluting shipbreaking on the beaches of the world's poorest countries, while obstructing transitions to safer and greener forms of ship recycling.

Read the Media Release - 5-15-09

I.M.O. Ship Recycling Convention Denounced as "Legal Shipwreck" - 5-11-09

ABC Radio Australia:
Convention tackles ship recycling pollution - 05-18-2009

Listen to the report: Windows Media

NPR Marketplace Morning Report:
New rules for ship recyclers to navigate - 05-15-2009

Listen to the report: Click here

Final Speech of the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking before the International Conference on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships

Speech given by the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking on The Beaching Method

Submission: Platform Rebuttal to India on Beaching

Pamphlet: OFF the BEACH

Legal Shipwreck (Ban Briefing Paper) May 2009

Statement of Concern on IMO Convention

NGO Platform Submission to IMO

Draft IMO Convention

News Stories:
New convention slammed for legitimising beaching of ships - 5-18-09
63 gov'ts approve UN convention on ship recycling - 5-15-09
Agreement Stresses Greener, Safer Ship Recycling - 5-15-09
Dozens of nations sign treaty on shipbreaking - 5-15-09
Ship recycling leaves tide of death on Asia's beaches - 5-15-09
Agreement on Ship Recycling Wins Wide Support - 5-14-09
Making the ship recycling industry clean up its act - 5-14-09
Pressure groups call IMO draft 'green gloss' - 5-12-09
Safety urged in ship recycling - 5-12-09
Nations look to make ship 'recycling' safer - 5-11-09
IMO set to adopt ship recycling convention - 5-8-09
Scores die breaking down ships in Asia - 5-8-09
The Freighter Graveyards of South Asia - 5-8-09

DELL Policy: No e-Waste Exports

5-12-09

Environmentalists and Consumer Groups Applaud Dell’s Policy on E-Waste Export

12 March 2009 (San Francisco, CA) - Environmentalists and consumer groups applauded Dell for its announcement today of a policy that prohibits the export of toxic electronic waste to any developing country.

Read the Media Release - 5-12-09

Dell's Press Release:
Dell Takes Strong Stance Against Exporting E-Waste

BAN Colleague Rizwana Hasan Wins Goldman Award for Courageous Work to End Unsustainable Shipbreaking

4-21-09

2009 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners Beat 'Insurmountable' Odds - ENS - 4-20-09

Syeda Rizwana Hasan | Goldman Prize

Image ©Tom Dusenbery

Victory for Safe Jobs and the Environment: High Court Halts Deadly Shipbreaking on the Beaches of Bangladesh

3-18-09

18 March 2009 (Dhaka) - As a result of a petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), the Bangladeshi High Court has directed the Department of Environment (DoE) to ensure that all shipbreaking yards operating without environmental clearance close their operations within two weeks.

Read the Press Release - 3-18-09

Editorial:
Ship-breaking shutdown - 3-19-09

Additional Press:
Save ship-breaking sector, cry jobless workers - 3-22-09
Court orders closure of Bangladesh scrapping yards - 3-18-09
Court Ruling Could Sink Bangladesh Shipbreaking Industry - 3-18-09
Ship-breaking ordered shut - 3-18-09

Malaysia's Decision to Refuse CRT Glass from the US

4-3-09

3 April 2008 - Recently, the Malaysian government decided to no longer accept any CRT glass from the United States, as of December 31, 2008. There appears to be confusion about what role, if any, BAN played in this nation’s decision. Here are the facts:

Read the Information Bulletin - 4-3-09

BAN featured in the Daily Mail / Mail Online – The dirty secret of your NHS – Read the Article Online

BAN's e-Stewards featured in Time Magazine – E-Waste Not – Read the Article Online

BAN's e-Stewards featured in USA Today – Watchdogs Hound E-Waste Exports – Read the Article Online

BAN in The New York Times – The Afterlife of Cellphones – Read the Article Online

BAN featured in National Geographic Magazine – High-Tech Trash: Will your discarded TV end up in a ditch in Ghana? – Read the Article Online

Marketplace: Our e-waste comes back to haunt us -- Website -- New!

Following in BAN's footsteps in Nigeria -- E-waste Dumping (featuring BAN)

Shipbreaking in India -- The Case of the Blue Lady (featuring BAN)
Link to the Series with Texts: Dirty Business

Victory Declared as Major Toxic Ship Exporter Forced to Pay Penalties by EPA

1-29-09

Activists Warn of Future Exports for Dumping on South Asian Beaches without Government Coordination

29 January 2009 (Seattle, San Francisco) - The toxic trade watchdog group Basel Action Network (BAN) declared victory today after a U.S business involved in sending hundreds of ships to the infamous shipbreaking beaches of Bangladesh and India was forced to pay $518,500 and certify that they would not undertake such actions again.

Read the Press Release - 1-29-09

EPA Press Release and Settlement - 1-29-09

U.S. EPA - In the Matter of: Global Shipping, LLC, and Global Marketing Systems, Inc. - Consent Agreement and Final Order - U.S. EPA / Docket No. TSCA-09-2008-0003 / Filed 28/01/2009

Global Marketing Systems, Inc. Answer to EPA Complaint - 4-30-08

Global Shipping LLC Answer to EPA Complaint - 4-30-08

EPA Press Release:
U.S. EPA files complaint against ship brokers for violations of Toxic Substances Control Act - 3-18-08

EPA Complaint: www.ban.org/library/Oceanic_complaint.pdf

EPA Cover Letter: www.ban.org/library/Oceanic_cover letter.pdf

Waste Stream Analysis for SS Independence, conducted by ship remediation expert Mr. Werner F. Hoyt - 2-14-08

BAN Press Releases:
EPA Sues US Ship Broker for Illegal Export but Allows 'Toxic Timebomb' to Sail Away - 3-20-08

Fugitive Toxic Ocean Liner Now Believed to be Nearing Guam – Mariners are Asked to Report Whereabouts and to Avoid Selling Ship Fuel - 3-6-08

EPA called on to Stop Illegal Departure of Toxic Ocean Liner – Historic SS Independence loaded with PCBs and asbestos to be scrapped - 2-20-08

Environmentalists Denounce Illegal Departure of Toxic Ship from San Francisco –
SS Independence with PCBs and Asbestos Slipped Away in the Fog - 2-12-08

Additional Press:
Toxic Ship Firm Fined $500k for Illegal Sale of Deadly PCBs -1-30-09
Md. firms fined $518,000 in shipbreaking case - 1-29-09
Toxic Ship Dealer Caught, Fined for Export of PCBs -1-29-09
The problem with ship scrapyards isn't what you think - 6-12-08
Global Marketing Systems responds to EPA investigation - 5-2-08
EPA alleges Md. firm illegally exported toxic ship for recycling - 3-25-08
Independence sails into a new set of problems - 3-21-08
Aged ships a toxic export - 3-19-08
Ocean Liner's Final Voyage to Asia under Scrutiny - 2-29-08
Last U.S. ocean liner heads into the unknown - 2-9-08

CBS' 60 Minutes Segment:
Exposes E-Waste Dumping, Features BAN

11-10-08

"Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste"

9 November 2008 - (CBS) 60 Minutes is going to take you to one of the most toxic places on Earth - a place government officials and gangsters don't want you to see. It's a town in China where you can't breathe the air or drink the water, a town where the blood of the children is laced with lead.

Read the 60 Minutes News Article - 11-9-08

"The Electronic Wasteland"

View the 60 Minutes News Segment - 11-9-08

BAN Announces New e-Stewards Certification Program:
E-Stewards: Activists and industry join to certify responsible electronics recyclers - 11-10-08
Listen to the News Conference Audio - 11-10-08

BAN Releases New Film: E-Stewardship: Taking Responsibility in the IT Age

BAN Launches New e-Stewards Website: Visit e-Stewards.org

BAN’s Response to the ISRI Letter to CBS’s 60 Minutes Program Regarding US e-Waste Exports - 11-19-08

Additional Press:
E-waste destined to Ghana caught in Amsterdam port - 2-27-09
E-waste flowing on charity tag - 2-11-09
Englewood warehouse raided by ICE, EPA - 1-24-09
E-Waste Not - 1-8-09
State's e-cycling law takes effect Thursday - 12-30-08
Watchdogs Hound E-Waste Exports - 12-29-08
Oregon, Washington aim to keep high-tech recycling clean - 12-25-08
US Communities Find Better Ways to Recycle Toxic Electronic Waste - 12-1-08
EPA looking at Executive Recycling’s export practices - 11-21-08
Not in My Backyard: Stopping Illegal Export of Junked Televisions and Computers - 11-19-08
The Green Penguin – Where Does Your E-Waste Go? - 11-19-08
Responsible e-waste recycling - 11-15-08
Could your computer become a toxic threat? - 11-10-08
Groups to launch e-waste certification program - 11-10-08
SCOTT PELLEY AND CREW GET ROUGHED UP GETTING THE STORY OF TOXIC “E-WASTE” DUMPS IN CHINA – “60 MINUTES” SUNDAY ON CBS - 11-6-08

GAO RELEASES NEW REPORT ON TOXIC E-WASTE EXPORT:
EPA unable to enforce rules, holds "little concern for the environment in other countries"

9-17-08

Report paints shocking picture of "electronic waste anarchy" says environmental group

17 September 2008 - The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on electronic waste today during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a national coalition of environmental and consumer groups promoting responsible recycling and green design in the electronics industry, applauded the report, hailing it as the U.S. government’s first comprehensive look at the magnitude of the problem of exporting toxic e-waste to developing nations.

Read the Press Release - 9-17-08

Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC) Press Release - 9-17-08

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report

Additional Press:
Electronics dumping ground - 9-23-08
Report: EPA Lets Electronic Waste Flow "Virtually Unrestricted" - 9-22-08
GAO Report: U.S. Companies Still Exporting Toxic E-Waste - 9-19-08
Trashed Tech Dumped Overseas: Does the U.S. Care? - 9-19-08
EPA Faulted for Failing to Control E-Waste Exports - 9-18-08
Brown Calls For National E-Waste Export Ban - 9-17-08
EPA Lets Electronic Waste Flow Freely, GAO Report Says - 9-17-08
US Exporting Harmful E-waste to Other Countries - 9-17-08

Waste Management Recycle America Commits to e-Stewards Pledge: World's Most Rigorous Environmental and Social Criteria for Electronic Waste Management

9-24-08

First solid waste management company to commit to responsible e-waste handling and environmental preservation

24 September 2008 - Waste Management Recycle America (WM Recycle America) today announced its commitment to adopt the Electronics Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship for the dismantling and recycling of electronics waste (e-waste).

Read the Press Release - 9-24-08

International NGOs Alarmed Over JPEPA

10-10-08

Ratification Tremendous Step Back for Environmental Justice

10 October 2008 (Quezon City) - International non-governmental organizations scored the Philippine Senate over the ratification of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA. In a statement issued by various international NGOs, they stated that they "stand in solidarity with all of Philippine civil society in outrage over the ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement."

Read the Press Release - 10-10-08

Read the Statement of Solidarity - 10-9-08

Image ©Gigie Cruz/GAIA

Press Releases:
Toxic Waste Exports in Asia Alarming - 9-26-08
JPEPA: POISON TO FILIPINOS - 9-8-08
Toxic Wastes in JPEPA a Real Threat (Japanese Translation) - 8-19-08
MAR HIT ON JPEPA CONSTITUTIONALITY - 8-12-08
Coffin, mourners march to Senate - 8-4-08
NO FOOD, NO JOBS, NO FUTURE with JPEPA - 4-21-08
Senate Urge to Uphold People's Interest vs JPEPA - 4-16-08
Citizen's Coalition Vows to Escalate Action against JPEPA - 4-10-08

Additional Press:
Conditional approving of RP-Japan trade advised - 4-24-09
Anti-JPEPA groups ask SC to act on petition - 12-11-08
SC asked to void RP-Japan trade pact - 12-4-08
Philippine Senate ratifies controversial trade deal with Japan - 10-9-08
Indonesia's Experience Debunks Claim of JPEPA Gains - 9-4-08
‘JPEPA fashionable but not timely’--expert - 8-27-08
‘RP gave too many concessions to Japan in free trade deal’ - 8-27-08
Santiago eases phantom fear of waste from Japan - 8-9-08
Junk JPEPA, Appeal Bishops - 8-4-08
'Fixing' flawed JPEPA - 5-8-08
Japanese condemn JPEPA too! - 4-24-08