It all boils down to what is the most economically sensible thing to do in the short term. If there was more money, or it was cheaper to dispose of in a desert you can be sure it'd all be going there, as opposed to how business is conducted today.
A country of 50mil throws away 50mil mobile phones a year.. First we should make sure we only design/manufacture durable electronics and second, it is each individual's responsibility to recognize his true needs and refrain from buying more than needed.
I wanted to post this link as a response to one of my friends facebook statuses about a broken iPod when one of the responses was something to the tune of "don't forget to send it to the hazardous waste collection site." instead I just shook my head and moved on. I've been called a Debbie Downer way too many times to realize people don't want to see the truth.
If the reporter is speaking about the capital city in the Southern Province of Guangdong it is pronounced " Gwang Jo" 广州市 Not Gwang zoo. In English it is written like Gwangzhou but still it's a glaring pronunciation error. The city used to be called Canton and is one of the oldest trading ports in China. In case anyone couldn't figured out there this place was from the video and reporter's pronunciation alone.
@lexichronicle2 If he was smart he'd strip the boards in a rotating arrangement so he didn't have to cook the epoxy substrate so badly on each individual board. That is what I do. I rotate about 5 boards at a time, work one a little then rest it and work another. But I am trying to salvage the parts in working order.
I love you journeyman pictures guys, your work is the REAL contribution to society, not the fucked up governments and corporations who run the "real" economy
Here we have a mining industry that recycle all the old electronic junk by melting them. They even make profits from the precious metals extracted. The problem is only the lack of initiative.
Guangzhou doesn't look anywhere close to this now, the city has been transformed since then with supertall skyscrapers and has one of the best standard of living in China, I assume they built a bunch of waste treatment and facilities for waste since then, 2007 is old as fuck for China, doesn't look the same anybody, Guangzhou now looks like a futuristic modern city.
well now if they could only get their act together considering the pollution in general through the whole country. It's a shame because it's such a beautiful country.
It's all about money. It's the government's responsiblity to make sure adequate trash fees are collected, including pollution fees and clean up fees. You don't know how important the environment is until you don't have it anymore.
I'm no luddite - I like the fastest PC gear as much as any other computer junkie - but the fact is, bunches of that stuff are thrown away (and not just computers, but phones, TVs, and lord knows what else) just because they're "old" or "out of date". IOW, much of it, long before it is bundled up and split to pieces, still works. Recycle your old gear, people!
This video talks about the 35 million tonnes in electronic waste being exported to China. However, we can admit to having thrown many kilos of electronic waste in our lifetimes. As the news from local landfills paints a bleak picture of poisoning the environment, it is important to acknowledge that electronic waste removal requires its own protocol. Contact us at Everything Rubbish 3A/80 Shirley Road,Wollstonecraft NSW 2065 1300 559 052.
Guys, DONATE your electronic goods. Don't throw them away. If you can't recycle them. NEVER throw away something when you can recycle them just so that someone could do, erm, this. (e.e) Reading Knites made me think, I want factories to just STOP, and use greener methods for work, but doing so in the process may kill these people who scarcely live from the factories. I never thought that factories stopping may kill many people who live by selling the metals in the electronic goods.
Why don't 1st world countries just build recycling plants instead of exporting their trash? Not only are you not polluting someone else's coiuntry, but you could create new jobs with plants that could recycle as much human trash as possible.
If China wants to be the "World's Factory" for manufacturing goods; then they should also learn to deal with all the products they make when it's returned for disposal.
I am good friends with some people that are from China and friends that are from Mexico. After working with these people you get a whole new look on life. We are so spoiled in the USA. My wife thinks I dont worry enough about the bills but Im just glad we are alive and in good health living in the best Country in the World. Obama should take some of these jerks from Wallstreet and put them in one of these factories for a months.
The government should really step in. If there's a large need of electricity. If the government doesn't provide it, individuals will have to find the cheapest way to get electricity. It leads to low efficiency and damage to the environment. But if the government does it, it will be a lot more efficient and a lot better for the environment. Recycling waste needs government intervention now. If it's not economical even for the government, then forget it. Dump it at your own country.
I never owned a cell phone in my life. I manage to survive. I use the same phone I've had for 30 years at home. It works just as good today as the day it was new.
Modern electronic goods need modern technology for disassemble not hammers and home made fires to get to the metals. Chinese government should build a modern plant to clear up that mess and make some good cash.
Well, you know, if they didn't want to be giant refuse dump then why did they accept the job, and the contract to have all of this waste dumped there? You can't blame someone else for something you brought upon yourself.
The video is good as a way to expose us to problems we wouldn't otherwise know about. However, they specifically tried to say the companies producing the goods are at fault, which is a simpleton's view of a complex issue. You can't blame a gun manufacturer for someone getting shot, it's just illogical. They also say the companies need to make their products less toxic, which is in itself not wholly ignorant, but they reported that the ill people had overdoses of common metals ...
@silverbud I am kind of troubled by your response to my comment. The forced deportation of millions of Jews to Madagascar was one of the idea's the Nazi's thought of to deal with the "Jewish Question" as they called it. And the point I was making was why not instead of poisoning Chinese people, we dump the computer trash were no one lives, therefore no one gets poisoned. There's no connection between the two. I would like it if would clarify your intent in your comment.
Yeah because when a laptop breaks they're so much easier to repair. No wait laptops break easier and are much harder to repair. The pile just got much bigger with your bright idea. Next!
Yes they are "trying" - if they were just as productive as they are with censoring, military weaponry production, etc. this issue should of being eliminated a long time ago just like the apparent "2 systems 1 country" idea here in Hong Kong.
Pretty shocking. But that's how humans work. If you can profit of something you find people desperate for work to aid you in this sort of business. I always bring old electronics to special collection points. Of course I can't keep track of what happens with them, but at least I'm trying to help out. More country's should get their own electronics deposit sites I guess.
I don't disagree. I wasn't implying the government is doing the job. I was making a point that the people that are working in these conditions are the ones suffering. Of course the government is to be blamed. And no, other countries do not recycle electronic waste on a scale China does. And it IS because the government accepts the waste in the first place. They accept all kinds of junk from the western consumers (who consume most of the electronics) for money.
That's why we need to learn to hack, to take the old stuff and make new stuff out of it. And why our throwaway planned obselescence thing needs to die.
Both sides are wrong. The countries dumping their waste in China for profit or environmental law-dodging shouldn't be participating in such a practices. At the same time, the people in China working with the waste should have never been so careless with the electronic waste in their means of disposal. Both sides are sickeningly incorrect with the way all of this is being handled.
Yet, China is at its core, a communist country. The CCP-run government controls everything, even private companies within the country. Yet this exists. The Soviet Union did the exact same thing to its people despite being a Communist country. What we are really seeing is corrupt governments allowing human suffering for their own benefit. It happens regardless of whether it's a capitalist system or a socialist system. Corrupt power corrupts absolutely.
Would someone tell me (in this current case I am ignorant), why don't people do recycling manifactorums there, also in Ghana (I came here from watching the E Waste Hell video)? All the metals, that construct the motherboards, CUPs and other hardware are with high- price and all those piles of IT can bring a lot to the iconomics of the country...
@prilstrudel We are not the only ones responsible for this. The governments of these countries are the ones who are supposed to look after the welfare of their own people.
Obviously they are not comparing it to the US dollar, they are saying how much the chineese wages would be in US dollars. And how is it relevant that she is from Europe? I don't think they claim to have a solution to this problem but to make people aware of the situation so that someone who can, can come up with a solution.
At what point will people refuse to do this work? The industry WILL exploit them all - and never be held accountable. ORGANIZE! If no one would do the work, those business and ALL the imports of the waste would STOP. Then the middle-men would have no market for the waste and the chain would back up till the cities of the consumers would fill up with monitors. THEN we might see some thoughtful design that would include "Cradle to Cradle" re-use. As long as "we" accept that we have no choice ...
Why should I be punished for your poor choices? That is exactly what will happen. Prices will go up for everyone. I tell you what, you pay for your own crap so I don't have to.
This is a terrible reality . All of this waste ends up in humans, animals, water and air. Like it or not this will spread to all 4 corners of the planet. It is all our problem, not just Asia, Africa or Pakistan's. We must be more proactive and responsible with our beautiful planet.
Cadium found in Made in China Children's Jewelry. We send Etrash to China and some have Lead and Cadium. They send us back the Cadium in Children's Jewelry. So where is the safety regulation in China?
EU do setted up recycling plan " Der Grune Punkt " " Rezy ", & many other ordinance/scheme govern this topic. But, electronic waste is something,that, too costly & way to difficult to 100% recycle it(as mainly toxic heavy metal embeded). Reason for China to recycle is to enrich GOLD from trash, that's why. Japan do have good plan to this,& setted up disposal cabinet in convenient store,for each drop-in, they give you certain coupon in exchange products you needs & recycle by specific factory.
Shame on them. They're not contracted to dismantle those products anyway, video says they're supposed to be used as "second-hand goods"; thus ain't destined to be scrapped, then again... China accepts the waste to obtain 'cheap' raw materials for it's manufacturing (what's left) though it's original concept is for scrap metal. As with all Chinese contracts, they didn't "specify" what kind of waste; thus we give them everything.
People go for profit, especially when they are poor or they are not that poor but people around them are rich, the latter is the case of most Chinese who do such business, I had chance to do this before. Those removed parts may even end up in US, because they are cheap. They could earn $1 by removing 100+ diodes, they pay for what they get, but I think the buz are moving out to other poorer countries.
Fomiz you wrote "We in the West should become more responsible with how we dispose of rubbish" We do have more responsible laws. We have so many laws that we are forced to ship our ewaste to other nations. What do you propose? you see a problem but you have no solution. I propose our government establish a recycling program right in USA. Or Build a plant in a poorer nation and employ local people to do the work. Instead of just whining.
my god, all these rude people here... can't you just formulate a sentance without one swearing word? shouting f*** at another person don't make your arguments better... pull yourself together, all of you!
You seem to misunderstand the point of the video. The problem is electronics are usually purchased by the more wealthy (relatively speaking) consumers, but people who are cleaning up this mess are the poor people. It's not about what country has to deal with what. It's which people have to deal with what.
I still have my original Cell phone from 1997. It's now retired as the house phone as we don't need a landline.
It all boils down to what is the most economically sensible thing to do in the short term. If there was more money, or it was cheaper to dispose of in a desert you can be sure it'd all be going there, as opposed to how business is conducted today.
And I thought I was going to make money taking apart my old computers.... Got some gold chips but that's it.
A country of 50mil throws away 50mil mobile phones a year.. First we should make sure we only design/manufacture durable electronics and second, it is each individual's responsibility to recognize his true needs and refrain from buying more than needed.
I wanted to post this link as a response to one of my friends facebook statuses about a broken iPod when one of the responses was something to the tune of "don't forget to send it to the hazardous waste collection site." instead I just shook my head and moved on. I've been called a Debbie Downer way too many times to realize people don't want to see the truth.
If the reporter is speaking about the capital city in the Southern Province of Guangdong it is pronounced " Gwang Jo"
广州市
Not Gwang zoo. In English it is written like Gwangzhou but still it's a glaring pronunciation error.
The city used to be called Canton and is one of the oldest trading ports in China. In case anyone couldn't figured out there this place was from the video and reporter's pronunciation alone.
Thank you, I was thinking the same.
Ann T
The reporter is not chinese
@lexichronicle2 If he was smart he'd strip the boards in a rotating arrangement so he didn't have to cook the epoxy substrate so badly on each individual board. That is what I do. I rotate about 5 boards at a time, work one a little then rest it and work another. But I am trying to salvage the parts in working order.
I love you journeyman pictures guys, your work is the REAL contribution to society, not the fucked up governments and corporations who run the "real" economy
Here we have a mining industry that recycle all the old electronic junk by melting them. They even make profits from the precious metals extracted. The problem is only the lack of initiative.
its sad...cant see how the earth is going to survive with so much electronics mixed in the soil
Reporter is like: 'OMFG you are using a screw driver, thats so frigging dangerous, dont the govt provide you any safety??!!'
I forget where I got this quote but it applies.
"Who's more foolish the fool or the fool who follows the fool?"
As horrible as it is to the environment, this may be the ultimate place for an experimenter to find good parts for their homemade gadgets.
Guangzhou doesn't look anywhere close to this now, the city has been transformed since then with supertall skyscrapers and has one of the best standard of living in China, I assume they built a bunch of waste treatment and facilities for waste since then, 2007 is old as fuck for China, doesn't look the same anybody, Guangzhou now looks like a futuristic modern city.
Gort Newton That's what I should do, make videos about China.
Wow I guess everything is great now, go Capitalism! Go Humans!
well now if they could only get their act together considering the pollution in general through the whole country. It's a shame because it's such a beautiful country.
At 0:19, I would LOVE to look through that pile of electronics!
It's all about money. It's the government's responsiblity to make sure adequate trash fees are collected, including pollution fees and clean up fees. You don't know how important the environment is until you don't have it anymore.
Aah, time to go and buy my new smartphone!
I'm no luddite - I like the fastest PC gear as much as any other computer junkie - but the fact is, bunches of that stuff are thrown away (and not just computers, but phones, TVs, and lord knows what else) just because they're "old" or "out of date". IOW, much of it, long before it is bundled up and split to pieces, still works. Recycle your old gear, people!
It doesn't matter, what matters is the message itself. Complaining will not solve a problem action does.
This video talks about the 35 million tonnes in electronic waste being exported to China. However, we can admit to having thrown many kilos of electronic waste in our lifetimes. As the news from local landfills paints a bleak picture of poisoning the environment, it is important to acknowledge that electronic waste removal requires its own protocol. Contact us at
Everything Rubbish
3A/80 Shirley Road,Wollstonecraft NSW 2065
1300 559 052.
wow. A solution is so very needed.
Small minded people see problems. Better people see challanges. Wise people see opportunities.
Guys, DONATE your electronic goods. Don't throw them away. If you can't recycle them. NEVER throw away something when you can recycle them just so that someone could do, erm, this. (e.e) Reading Knites made me think, I want factories to just STOP, and use greener methods for work, but doing so in the process may kill these people who scarcely live from the factories. I never thought that factories stopping may kill many people who live by selling the metals in the electronic goods.
Why don't 1st world countries just build recycling plants instead of exporting their trash?
Not only are you not polluting someone else's coiuntry, but you could create new jobs with plants that could recycle as much human trash as possible.
If China wants to be the "World's Factory" for manufacturing goods; then they should also learn to deal with all the products they make when it's returned for disposal.
I am good friends with some people that are from China and friends that are from Mexico. After working with these people you get a whole new look on life. We are so spoiled in the USA. My wife thinks I dont worry enough about the bills but Im just glad we are alive and in good health living in the best Country in the World. Obama should take some of these jerks from Wallstreet and put them in one of these factories for a months.
"We, as consumers, should be aware that old machines we throw away so carelessly are threatening lives in Africa and Asia."
Amen.
Could the government not buy a a few 100.000 or so respirator or gas masks and give them out to workers for free ?
Ah, the good old days, when everyone had jobs ...
The government should really step in. If there's a large need of electricity. If the government doesn't provide it, individuals will have to find the cheapest way to get electricity. It leads to low efficiency and damage to the environment. But if the government does it, it will be a lot more efficient and a lot better for the environment. Recycling waste needs government intervention now. If it's not economical even for the government, then forget it. Dump it at your own country.
I never owned a cell phone in my life. I manage to survive. I use the same phone I've had for 30 years at home. It works just as good today as the day it was new.
What about now?
@@LYNESTAR_ it still works.
China makes most of that stuff so they should be the ones that have to deal with the waste.
what town is this so i can look it up on wikapedia ??
At least they're recycling the electronics
Thanks for the inconsiderate amplified noise you've inserted at the end of the video.
Modern electronic goods need modern technology for disassemble not hammers and home made fires to get to the metals. Chinese government should build a modern plant to clear up that mess and make some good cash.
hey, thats my old computer!
send it back!
i had some files on it!
just reminder that this video is post at 2007 and the many clip in this video is more like taking in 2003 - 2005.
China, especially Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, has developed rapidly since then.
You're spot on, those Chinese chicken electronics went home to roost!
Well, you know, if they didn't want to be giant refuse dump then why did they accept the job, and the contract to have all of this waste dumped there?
You can't blame someone else for something you brought upon yourself.
If you get talked into something guess who's fault it is? Yours! Who told you to listen?
Actually, most of it IS computers. 80% does come from overseas of course.
The video is good as a way to expose us to problems we wouldn't otherwise know about. However, they specifically tried to say the companies producing the goods are at fault, which is a simpleton's view of a complex issue. You can't blame a gun manufacturer for someone getting shot, it's just illogical. They also say the companies need to make their products less toxic, which is in itself not wholly ignorant, but they reported that the ill people had overdoses of common metals ...
exactly ... this is what the Western world is doing to traditional cultures by exporting our unsustainable and mindless consumerism.
@silverbud I am kind of troubled by your response to my comment.
The forced deportation of millions of Jews to Madagascar was one of the idea's the Nazi's thought of to deal with the "Jewish Question" as they called it.
And the point I was making was why not instead of poisoning Chinese people, we dump the computer trash were no one lives, therefore no one gets poisoned.
There's no connection between the two.
I would like it if would clarify your intent in your comment.
I think this video was kind. When I visited it seemed dirtier than this.
When did you visit? I've watched a 2015 aerial view of the entire Guangzhou and it looks super clean and modern.
Yeah because when a laptop breaks they're so much easier to repair. No wait laptops break easier and are much harder to repair. The pile just got much bigger with your bright idea. Next!
You're an idiot don't comment for every second of the video
Yes they are "trying" - if they were just as productive as they are with censoring, military weaponry production, etc. this issue should of being eliminated a long time ago just like the apparent "2 systems 1 country" idea here in Hong Kong.
Pretty shocking. But that's how humans work. If you can profit of something you find people desperate for work to aid you in this sort of business. I always bring old electronics to special collection points. Of course I can't keep track of what happens with them, but at least I'm trying to help out. More country's should get their own electronics deposit sites I guess.
Some how my dear, I don't think that is the issue in this documentary. We in the West should become more responsible with how we dispose of rubbish.
I don't disagree. I wasn't implying the government is doing the job. I was making a point that the people that are working in these conditions are the ones suffering. Of course the government is to be blamed.
And no, other countries do not recycle electronic waste on a scale China does. And it IS because the government accepts the waste in the first place. They accept all kinds of junk from the western consumers (who consume most of the electronics) for money.
That's why we need to learn to hack, to take the old stuff and make new stuff out of it.
And why our throwaway planned obselescence thing needs to die.
And people say that we Americans are ignorant...
Countries should appreciate China for doing this
Why don't we just ship our electronic waste to a inhabitable desert in the Sahara or something, instead of in the middle of a city.
Both sides are wrong. The countries dumping their waste in China for profit or environmental law-dodging shouldn't be participating in such a practices. At the same time, the people in China working with the waste should have never been so careless with the electronic waste in their means of disposal. Both sides are sickeningly incorrect with the way all of this is being handled.
man that s a shame...better there than here...
This is global capitalism,
resistance on all corners of the globe
is necessary. Not division.
Yet, China is at its core, a communist country. The CCP-run government controls everything, even private companies within the country. Yet this exists. The Soviet Union did the exact same thing to its people despite being a Communist country. What we are really seeing is corrupt governments allowing human suffering for their own benefit. It happens regardless of whether it's a capitalist system or a socialist system. Corrupt power corrupts absolutely.
Would someone tell me (in this current case I am ignorant), why don't people do recycling manifactorums there, also in Ghana (I came here from watching the E Waste Hell video)?
All the metals, that construct the motherboards, CUPs and other hardware are with high- price and all those piles of IT can bring a lot to the iconomics of the country...
@prilstrudel We are not the only ones responsible for this. The governments of these countries are the ones who are supposed to look after the welfare of their own people.
Obviously they are not comparing it to the US dollar, they are saying how much the chineese wages would be in US dollars.
And how is it relevant that she is from Europe? I don't think they claim to have a solution to this problem but to make people aware of the situation so that someone who can, can come up with a solution.
At what point will people refuse to do this work? The industry WILL exploit them all - and never be held accountable. ORGANIZE! If no one would do the work, those business and ALL the imports of the waste would STOP. Then the middle-men would have no market for the waste and the chain would back up till the cities of the consumers would fill up with monitors. THEN we might see some thoughtful design that would include "Cradle to Cradle" re-use. As long as "we" accept that we have no choice ...
There is good in computers and cell phones. Next time you want to toss one out, open it up first.
Why should I be punished for your poor choices? That is exactly what will happen. Prices will go up for everyone. I tell you what, you pay for your own crap so I don't have to.
Im sorry that you think all Americans feel that way, but we don't. Both our governments let it happen, not just America.
good rant
This has nothing to do with being white/black/asian or whatever, it's about the inherent nature of man.
3:54 he smokes the polution and the cigartett like a boss
What the hell is that morse code at the end? Pretty annoying.
I always thought it was like "made in China, dumped in India"
oh the govement don't care that mean it's ok to dump it ?
I live in Thailand, and no. People don't eat cats and dogs over here. Get your facts straight before pointing finger at other countries.
What about you? Why do you keep going on your computer flaming people when you should be doing something else productive?
Have some sympathy! They are human beings regardless the nationalities. I simply cannot understand some of the comments.
lol I had a typo, I meant gold is inside them.
Stupid mobile phone company..they should use 5v usb cable...at leat this could make products last longer
Check out our trade deficit. I'd call that paying dearly wouldn't you?
This is a terrible reality . All of this waste ends up in humans, animals, water and air. Like it or not this will spread to all 4 corners of the planet. It is all our problem, not just Asia, Africa or Pakistan's. We must be more proactive and responsible with our beautiful planet.
Cadium found in Made in China Children's Jewelry. We send Etrash to China and some have Lead and Cadium. They send us back the Cadium in Children's Jewelry. So where is the safety regulation in China?
we're simply sending our electronics back home. no, just kidding. I think this is very sad.
Everybody are ruining the mother earth. Some1 should do something.
0:01 for people to skip the ad
EU do setted up recycling plan " Der Grune Punkt " " Rezy ", & many other ordinance/scheme govern this topic. But, electronic waste is something,that, too costly & way to difficult to 100% recycle it(as mainly toxic heavy metal embeded). Reason for China to recycle is to enrich GOLD from trash, that's why. Japan do have good plan to this,& setted up disposal cabinet in convenient store,for each drop-in, they give you certain coupon in exchange products you needs & recycle by specific factory.
Shame on them. They're not contracted to dismantle those products anyway, video says they're supposed to be used as "second-hand goods"; thus ain't destined to be scrapped, then again...
China accepts the waste to obtain 'cheap' raw materials for it's manufacturing (what's left) though it's original concept is for scrap metal. As with all Chinese contracts, they didn't "specify" what kind of waste; thus we give them everything.
Very disturbing, indeed.
People go for profit, especially when they are poor or they are not that poor but people around them are rich, the latter is the case of most Chinese who do such business, I had chance to do this before. Those removed parts may even end up in US, because they are cheap. They could earn $1 by removing 100+ diodes, they pay for what they get, but I think the buz are moving out to other poorer countries.
Electronic is a gold mine !!!
Fomiz you wrote "We in the West should become more responsible with how we dispose of rubbish" We do have more responsible laws. We have so many laws that we are forced to ship our ewaste to other nations. What do you propose? you see a problem but you have no solution. I propose our government establish a recycling program right in USA. Or Build a plant in a poorer nation and employ local people to do the work. Instead of just whining.
I want to respond to you but I don't quite understand what you mean.
And when it falls apart.. Then what?
my god, all these rude people here... can't you just formulate a sentance without one swearing word? shouting f*** at another person don't make your arguments better... pull yourself together, all of you!
isnt that smoke thy breath, tin smoke? from sodering tin?
I think that china forbids most of the photography on the bad areas, who know how few procent's we know about chinas polluting =(
0:01 to skip the ad for people.
exactly, shits designed so that in 3 or 4 years youll need to chuck it and then spend more
maybe we should burn this shit in our backyards and suffer the consequences
So because the Chinese Government allows this it's not our fault?
Don't you even feel even an ounce of responsibility?
whoa I can't imagine that 16 year old like girl doing this kind of thing
You seem to misunderstand the point of the video. The problem is electronics are usually purchased by the more wealthy (relatively speaking) consumers, but people who are cleaning up this mess are the poor people.
It's not about what country has to deal with what. It's which people have to deal with what.
I bet most don't care either.