Statistics show that the Chinese dump roughly 1.11 million tons of electronic wastes from discarded home appliances. SEPA voices concern over their ability to deal with such a large amount of waste.

Every year, China disposed off at least 5 million television sets, 4 million refrigerators, 5 million washing machines, 5 million computers, and tens of millions of cell phones, government statistics shows. Health specialists say e-waste contains excessive poisonous elements such as lead, mercury and cadmium that are extremely harmful to both human and the environment.

Meanwhile, China has a large number of illegal e-waste collectors, who often take away the precious metal in exchange for money, and the less valuable parts they throw away can cause serious pollution to soil, air and groundwater, affecting environment and human health.

China is expected to enforce regulations governing the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment this year. The regulations will make producers responsible for the collection, recycling and reuse of waste products.

  (Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005 ) (Extract)