Montreal, Friday, October 5, 2018 - What happens to obsolete cell phones, old TVs and tangles of cables sent for recycling? Wanting to follow the path of e-waste, Mélissa Guillemette, journalist at Québec Science, uncovered a well-functioning recovery program criticized for its lack of transparency; complex toxic materials to process; an uncontrolled parallel network of recyclers; and illegal exports.
Our journalist consulted numerous experts, studied the literature on the subject, visited recycling plants and interviewed both official recyclers and those operating on the bangs of the system.
Although Quebecers pay an ecofee when they buy electronic equipment to ensure that it is properly recycled, it is difficult for them to assess the effectiveness of this contribution. «At present, no one knows the exact recovery rate for electronic waste. At best, we can say that a fraction of our waste is recycled,» observes Mélissa Guillemette. A damning observation that forces us to reflect on our over-consumption of electronic devices.
To find out more about this major story, see Québec Science magazine on newsstands now!
