The E-Waste Sydney Initiative
The discovery of e-waste in New York has been one of the biggest environmental stories in recent years. As America searches for solutions to this global problem, citizens of New York have been asking what their local municipalities are doing to address the issue of e-waste in recycling near them. Two bills have been introduced to the state legislature to help municipalities address the problem. One of these bills is currently being debated in the state Senate and may become a bill later this year. The other bill has been sitting in the House committees until recently.
What is New York is doing to try to make sure that the cities and towns along the New York/ Erie canal are taking care of e-waste contamination? A group of City State Representatives has been meeting twice a month to begin examining the impact of e-waste in New York's recycling near waterways. Representatives Jane Lally of Manhattan and Daniel Donovan of Buffalo is looking into the feasibility of establishing a waste removal program that would include all of the regions of the state. If the waste isn't removed, they say, there could be an increased risk of flooding, more dangerous chemicals entering the water, and even more pollution that harm the environment. They have also introduced a resolution in the House calling on all members of Congress to get involved and create a federal lead.
The proposal calls on each member of Congress to the resolution and to introduce a parallel resolution in the Senate calling on the secretaries of state of different countries to take action immediately to begin the process of dismantling the e-waste problem worldwide. If this sounds like a long shot, consider how few members of Congress have even heard of the e-waste problem or of the dangers it represents. Hopefully, members of Congress will continue to add to the efforts.
The good news is that there is still a way to turn the tide. Australia led the world in recent years in recognizing the importance of stopping e-waste dumping and supporting the construction of clean energy and green buildings. Now, other countries and sectors are following suit. One United Nations Environment Program researcher suggested in January that developing countries should come to the aid of developing countries and help them in their attempts to recycle and establish national industrial composting centers.
The U.S. proposal is not the only initiative addressing the e-waste problem. India has also announced measures to address the problem. Last year, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a commitment to begin phasing out outdated waste and implementing measures to generate green energy. This year, India will start a national dialogue with stakeholders to map out a plan for a national e-waste policy. Other countries and organizations involved in tackling the waste include the Basel Action Network, Green peace, and the World Wide Fund for Climate change.
With all these initiatives, there is hope that the e-waste problem will be solved this time around. However, it is important to remember that this is a global problem and solutions cannot be implemented locally or alone. Globally, no single solution can provide a lasting solution to the e-waste problem. Only a coordinated international effort can provide a lasting solution by stopping the flow of e-waste through better regulation and trade set-ups. With the combined efforts of governments, industry, civil society and concerned organizations working together, we can soon live in a world free from toxic wastes.
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