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Basel Action Network (BAN) Toxic Trade News, 6/10/09. "The Environmental Protection Agency filed a legal Complaint and Compliance Order late last week against EarthEcycle, the electronic waste handler for several charity e-waste collection events held in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in recent days. Basel Action Network (BAN) tracked 7 sea-going containers of the collected toxic e-waste to Hong Kong and South Africa after assurances were made by EarthEcycle owner, Mr. Jeffrey Nixon, that the wastes would be recycled locally. The EPA complaint cites 7 violation counts for illegal management and exportation of 'Cathode Ray Tubes' - the picture tube of old computer monitors and TVs. The counts include 'unauthorized export of hazardous waste' and 'failure to prepare a hazardous waste manifest.'" Article also reports on the decision of certain charities to continue their fundraising relationships with EarthECycle despite allegations of illegal exportation of waste.

Andy Sheehan of KDKA (Pittsburgh) interviews Jeff Nixon, owner of EarthECycle, an electronics recycling company that is the focus of recent expose by BAN and the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. Nixon denies any wrong doing and expresses his intent to conduct more e-waste fundraising events, such as the one examined in the BAN/ETBC report. (see http://www.ban.org/Library/PittsburghScam.pdf)

"Microsoft Bans Nearly a Million Xbox Users, Now Crippled Consoles Are Flooding the Market"

"Environment MEPs call for a ban on certain nanomaterials for electronics applications"

"Trade talks may spike proposal to ban e-waste"

"Researchers Feel U.S. E-Waste Trade Ban Wouldn't Be That Effective"

"Canberra Foremost to Ban Television Dumping "

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in Basel, Switzerland on 22 March 1989. The Convention was initiated in response to numerous international scandals regarding hazardous waste trafficking that began to occur in the late 1980s. The Convention entered into force on 5 May 1992 and today has its Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. BAN web page. Includes country status table; text of the treaty in English, French & Spanish; Conference of the Parties Reports; Competent Authorities list; and a link to the Basel Secretariat.

Report published by the Basel Action Network (BAN) & the Electronics Takeback Coalition describing a scandal involving a free electronics collection held as a benefit for a charity. According to the report, items collected were shipped overseas despite assurances by the recycling firm that all e-waste they collect is kept within the U.S. for processing. (PDF Format; Length: 18 pages).

"Commission studying ban on e-waste"

"Ban on electronics in landfills an environmental disaster?"

"Uganda reverses PC recycling policy as Kenya imposes ban"

BAN launched a new program to certify that electronics are safely recycled launched today with the backing of environmental groups and several companies including Samsung.

From 6/9/09 edition of Waste & Recycling News. More press coverage of EarthECycle own Jeff Nixon's response to the recent expose by BAN and ETBC. According to this article, Nixon further challenges "e-Steward companies, as well as all other U.S. electronics recyclers, to a national fundraiser to use the proceeds to clean up all electronic waste sites."