Comments on: Fairtrade Fortnight 2010: Fairtrade and IT http://www.news.software.coop/fairtrade-fortnight-2010-fairtrade-and-it/916/ Updates seen at the co-operative for Software Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:25:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: joe http://www.news.software.coop/fairtrade-fortnight-2010-fairtrade-and-it/916/comment-page-1/#comment-21986 joe Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:56:23 +0000 http://www.news.software.coop/?p=916#comment-21986 IT waste is a particularly nasty problem. Whilst WEEE has stopped this being thrown into landfill, it has meant that it can be exported with very little knowledge about where it eventually ends up. A FOI request I made to the Environment Agency showed that they have never been to China to inspect facilities receiving UK WEEE waste, and instead rely on paper chains submitted by exporters. I cannot see how it is possible to use this paper to prove that the waste has not been subcontracted to others who work in poor conditions. Indeed, I'd say that was highly likely. See the FOI here: http://j-n-turner.co.uk/environment-agency-foi-request-data-about-wee IT waste is a particularly nasty problem. Whilst WEEE has stopped this being thrown into landfill, it has meant that it can be exported with very little knowledge about where it eventually ends up.

A FOI request I made to the Environment Agency showed that they have never been to China to inspect facilities receiving UK WEEE waste, and instead rely on paper chains submitted by exporters. I cannot see how it is possible to use this paper to prove that the waste has not been subcontracted to others who work in poor conditions. Indeed, I’d say that was highly likely.

See the FOI here: http://j-n-turner.co.uk/environment-agency-foi-request-data-about-wee

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