Reaction Paper:

Reaction paper:these standards should pay heavy fines.
Toxic recycling:Warfare to welfare:
The article toxic recycling by Elizabeth GrossmanThe article from warfare to welfare by William
highlights the health hazard posed by electronic wasteHartung and Jennifer Washburn discusses Lockheed
in the US and in the world. Electronic waste containsMartin a company that is the largest weapon
mercury, cadmium, lead and barium which cause harmmanufacturer, according to the article the company
to animals, plants and human life. The existence ofstrategy by 2000 is to privatize social welfare by
these heavy metals in electronic waste has resultedforming divisions in the company that will undertake
into the recycling process whereby electronic saleswelfare programs in the US, these programs include
have grown fast in the past and according to 2004the distribution of food stamps and cash assistants.
there were over 400 recycling plants in the US.It is evident that in the year 2000 the company's
It is evident that given the health hazards andstock prices were declining and the company was in
environmental degradation that electronic wastea financial crisis given that it had requested the
cause recycling is a good solution to this problem. Aspentagon to offer an $855 million loan to pay for
new electronic products are introduced into themergers. According to the report the average
market older products are discarded by consumershousehold pays over $200 per year in tax to
resulting into increased electronic waste each year.Lockheed Martin and privatisation of the public
With this increase in waste each year the recyclingservice sector will increase the tax level and also the
industry is expected to grow and the article highlightsgovernment will no longer offer these services.
this growth by stating that in 2004 the recyclingThe article highlights that Lockheed Martin has in the
firms made over 10 million and employed over 1,000past hired workers who previously held positions as
inmates.pentagon officials, this is a strategy to influence
Recycling however should be undertaken underdecision makers in the awarding of contracts,
proper conditions to avoid the release of heavytherefore it is clear that some of top officials in
metals as dust into the environment, the articlegovernment have a stake in the company and the
highlights that the recycling process undertaken byprivatisation of welfare operations may negatively
UNICOR using inmates as labour is undertaken underaffect the efficiency and effectiveness of services
unhealthy conditions, inmates do not use equipmentsoffered.
that are in line with OSHA standards, also they eatIt is therefore clear that the strategy of this
lunch in areas contaminated with heavy metals. Thecompany is to expand its operations into social
recycling firms therefore do not take intowelfare services. These are services that should be
consideration the health of inmates and prisonoffered by the government and privatisation of such
officers.services will not be as efficient and effective, the
With the recycling industry growing fast laws andreason for this is that the company's aim is to make
regulations should be put in place in order to protectprofit and not improve the lives of the individuals,
the environment and individuals who work in thesepublic goods and services should be provided by the
recycling firms, the environmental agencies andgovernment and not private firms. Therefore the
occupational safety and health administration shouldcompany should not be allowed to offer public
inspect the recycling firms regularly to ensure thatservices given that this is the role of the
they follow set standards and those that violategovernment.