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VICTORY! Philips accepts recycling responsibility

European e-waste arrives illegally in Nigeria to be sold as "second hand goods". Enlarge Image

Undercover operation exposes illegal dumping of e-waste in Nigeria

Following a three-year undercover investigation, we’ve shown once again that electronic waste - like your old TV set - still isn't being responsibly recycled like it's supposed to be. Instead, e-waste is being disguised as second-hand goods and shipped off to Nigeria, where it is sold, scrapped or illegally dumped.

Electronic waste in Guangdong, China As much as 4,000 tonnes of toxic e-waste are discarded every hour. Vast amounts are routinely and often illegally shipped as waste from Europe, USA and Japan to places where unprotected workers recover parts and materials. Enlarge Image

Green gadgets - The search continues

The latest survey of greener electronics products has revealed that the greenest consumer electronic products on the market today may have a smaller environmental footprint than those sold a year ago, but the industry still has a way to go before they can claim a truly green product.

A pile of electronic waste on a roadside in Guiyu. Enlarge Image

Greener Electronics – Major companies fail to show climate leadership

The latest edition of our Guide to Greener Electronics has revealed that very few firms are showing true climate leadership. Despite many green claims, major companies like Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, LG, Samsung and Apple are failing to support the necessary levels of global cuts in emissions and make the absolute cuts in their own emissions that are required to tackle climate change.

Philips celebrates its 110 years on the Russian market in Moscow's Red Square. Greenpeace activists unrolled a banner with the phrase: “Philips: simply take back & recycle!” in Russian and English. Greenpeace is calling on the company to accept responsibility for its own-branded electronic waste (e-waste). Enlarge Image

Philips back in the red

Philips Electronics has long been in the red with a big fat zero on tackling e-waste in our Guide to Greener Electronics. Meanwhile, in Moscow’s Red Square, it is celebrating 110 years in Russia with its annual 'Sense and Simplicity' event. We did a spot of corporate gatecrashing to remind Philips that, after all these years, doing the right thing is still simple: take back and recycle.

Boys burning electronic cables and other electrical components in order to melt off the plastic and reclaim the copper wiring. This burning in small fires releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Enlarge Image

Poisoning the poor – Electronic Waste in Ghana

The latest place where we have discovered high tech toxic trash causing horrendous pollution is in Ghana. Our analysis of samples taken from two electronic waste (e-waste) scrap yards in Ghana has revealed severe contamination with hazardous chemicals.

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