House Considers Banning Electronic Waste Exports

Democratic Rep. Gene Green of Texas has introduced a congressional resolution calling for the U.S. to ban the export of toxic electronic scrap to developing countries.

"As the pace of technology increases, the amount of toxic electronic waste is piling up at home and abroad," says Rep. Gene Green. "Many Americans are unaware that discarded electronics often contain lead, mercury and other toxics and end up being salvaged under inhumane conditions in the developing world."

The resolution calls for a ban on exporting electronic scrap only to developing countries because they often lack the resources to safely handle toxic material resulting from electronic scrap.

"This resolution doesn’t call for a ban on all exports, just exports to the developing nations," Barbara Kyle, national coordinator for the San Francisco-based Electronics TakeBack Coalition, says. "Exporting e-waste to the developed countries, which have laws and governments that protect workers and the environment, would still be allowed."

Because the ban is still in the non-binding resolution stage, there are no definitions yet as to what materials are considered toxic electronic waste and what materials are not.

Kyle says she believes the passage of the resolution would indicate a policy shift, suggesting that Congress understands "this is an issue that is not being addressed."