| If you have a computer at home or at the office, | | | | handling the e-waste in that country an environment |
| then you are aware of all the security protocols | | | | watchdog organization known as Basel Action |
| there are when you operate a computer. They make | | | | Network was appalled by the environmental |
| software to protect your computer from probing | | | | catastrophe they found. The evidence made it clear |
| eyes, and hiring computer security to monitor the | | | | to see US electronics in large quantities being dumped |
| actions of would be hackers. Companies do | | | | on the people of the poor country. The equipment |
| everything within their power to protect your identity | | | | found had been previously used by mortgage |
| from identity theft. | | | | companies, financial institutions, hospitals, and local |
| Many hours and thousands of dollars are spent | | | | governments, and after recovering the hard drives |
| protecting information while the computer, PDA or | | | | from this equipment the data was found to still be on |
| other pieces of electronic equipment is in use, but | | | | it. |
| many times old computers are unplugged and placed | | | | The developing countries are interested in the |
| into storage, donated or given away will the | | | | electronic waste because of the aluminum, copper, |
| information still in it undamaged and in one piece. | | | | steel, and other bits of precious metal with can be |
| Paper shredders have been in use for years as a | | | | found on the motherboards. The data just goes |
| way to get rid of documents and to keep the | | | | along for the ride as well as the toxic chemicals used |
| information on those documents from falling into the | | | | in the making of the monitors, which are illegal to |
| wrong hands. However, even thought paper | | | | dispose of in the United States through the normal |
| shredders are still in use today it is forgotten where | | | | waste pick-up headed for the landfills. |
| the information was generated - the computer. | | | | There is little to no environment security for the |
| Of course it is not just the computers, which has | | | | shipments of electronic equipment being sent to |
| unprotected data in it there are servers, cell phones, | | | | other countries, and as a result there is a health and |
| fax machines, copiers, scanners, back-up drives, | | | | environmental nightmare in the villages who have the |
| thumb drives, ribbons from dot matrix printers and | | | | equipment because of the pollution to their water, air |
| typewriters. All of these devices are capable of | | | | and soil. |
| storing data, which can be retrieved by unwanted | | | | Here in the United States companies who generate a |
| parties. | | | | large amount of electronic equipment waste must |
| When it comes to the disposing of the old no longer | | | | have a documented and compliant program in place |
| used equipment, it is not very high on the priority list. | | | | or be at risk of a fine, which can reach into the |
| You might find it hard to believe, but about 70 to 80 | | | | thousands of dollars. If the recycler is not handling |
| percent of used electronic equipment is being sent | | | | the equipment in a manner, which is not harmful to |
| across the world to Thailand, Nigeria, Indonesia, China, | | | | others, the company who hired them is still |
| India and Pakistan. | | | | responsible for the damages. |
| After traveling to Nigeria to examine the methods of | | | | |