In an interesting article from The News Times, a much darker side of e-waste recycling is exposed, casting a shadow over something that is supposed to do good to the environment.

According to the news piece, an estimated 50 to 80 percent of 300,000 to 400,000 tons of electronic waste from the US ends up being shipped off to other countries, where they are being extracted and dismantled by workers in poor working conditions.

Most of the electronic waste end up being shipped off to other countries such as China, Nigeria, India, among others. Most of them are being exported from the US under the pretext that the used electronic equipment will be used by poor families.

However, environmental activists say that the shipped waste only contaminates other countries instead of being used. The activists also claim that exporters never check used electronic equipment, whether they still work or not.

Is America  recycling their electronic waste or polluting the environment with e-waste? Do check out the Via link for more detailed information, and judge for yourself.