Half a square kilometer in Mexico City is dedicated almost entirely to the recycling of e-waste. Bloomberg Business visited the neighborhood of Renovación to see how recycling activities are affecting the local community, and they looked into the legislation that enables the shipment of old electronic devices from the US to Mexico.
People at the recycling workshops told reporters that their informal jobs pay quite well in comparison to factory jobs. However, the higher payment may be at the cost of their own health and the health of the community’s children. The toxic chemicals that are released in the process of breaking down old electronic devices can cause a range of diseases and, in children, learning disabilities.
Bloomberg Business points out the responsibility of electronics companies in the export of US e-waste to Mexico. Dell, especially, played an important role in hindering legislation that would make companies responsible for the collection of used devices. To learn more, read the full feature here.
