What happened in Guiyu?

Studies done in 2009 have revealed that Guiyu has some of the highest levels of dioxin contamination in the world. Children under the age of 6 are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect their mental and physical development or even be fatal.

What caused e-waste in Guiyu China?

E-waste is valued due to its content of precious metals such as gold and copper, sometimes richer than a commercial mine. Due to a combination of prohibitive costs and stringent environmental laws, recycling can be cumbersome in developed countries, which incentivizes export to sites such as Guiyu.

Does China still accept e-waste?

Although imports of e-waste into China are officially banned, a report by the United Nations’ initiative, Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP ), states that large volumes still find their way into the country from the United States, Europe, and other countries in Asia, while e-waste generation within China in 2011 was …

Is Guiyu in Hong Kong?

Now, the residents of Guiyu – located in the economic powerhouse province of Guangdong, about 175 miles from Hong Kong – are grappling with a new cleanup of the recycling industry that remains a mainstay of the town’s economy.

What is Guiyu?

Guiyu (Chinese: 贵屿; pinyin: Guìyǔ) is a town created from an agglomerate of four adjoined villages totalling 150,000 people in the Chaoyang district of Guangdong province in China. Situated on the South China Sea coast, Guiyu is perhaps best known in the global environmentalist community for its reception of e-waste.

Why is there so much e-waste in China?

The major sources of e-waste processed in China are households, domestic institutions such as schools and hospitals, government agencies and businesses, and equipment manufacturers.

Why did China ban foreign waste?

In the early 1990s, foreign waste that was being imported as “recyclable waste” was causing serious problems in China [21]. The Chinese government made a temporary statement in 1991 to control the importation of hazardous waste and enacted domestic legislations to regulate waste imports in 1996.

Which country has the best e-waste management system?

However, on a per capita basis, several countries famed for their environmental awareness and recycling records lead the way. Norway is on top of the world’s electronic waste mountain, generating 62.4 lbs per inhabitant. Switzerland is in second position with 58lbs while Iceland rounds off the top three with 57.3lbs.

What country has the most e-waste?

China
China is the world’s largest importer and producer of electronic waste with over 70% of all global e-waste ending up in the world’s largest dumpsites.

When did China ban e-waste?

January 2018
According to United Nations data, about 70% of electronic waste globally generated ended up in China,” said Ma Tianjie, a spokesman for the Beijing office of Greenpeace. In January 2018, the Chinese government implemented a waste import ban which Hong Kong has not enforced.

How does the e-waste industry impact Guiyu?

Air, soil, sediment and water have all been found to contain harmful pollutants. The nature of e-waste processing in Guiyu, notably the extensive use of grinding, melting, roasting and burning, provides many routes by which toxic substances can be emitted into the atmosphere.

Who is the largest producer of e-waste?

Global e-waste generation by major country 2019 China is the largest producer of electronic waste worldwide, generating more than 10 million metric tons worth in 2019. This was followed by the United States where roughly seven million metric tons was produced.