Greenpeace is working to halt "toxic trade" from developed countries to less well-regulated poorer countries - like this ship being scrapped at Alang shipbreaking yard, Gujarat, India.
Greenpeace is working to eliminate persistent organic pollutants
(POPs) and other chemicals that are turning up in our lakes, in our
fields and in our food. We believe that governments must take
action and require companies to stop using hazardous chemicals and
to replace or substitute them with safer alternatives.
Because developing countries often have less stringent
environmental regulations, many countries and companies are
exporting their toxic waste. Greenpeace has documented hundreds of
cases in which developed countries have traded or transferred toxic
waste problems to developing countries. One of the most active
campaigns against this 'toxic trade' is our shipbreaking
campaign.
Cell phones, computers and personal digital assistants contain a
long list of chemical poisons. When these technologies become
obsolete, they are often dumped in landfills or incinerated.
Greenpeace is working to get the companies that make millions from
producing high tech gadgets to take some responsibility for safely
disposing of this e-waste.