E-Waste In Prime Time

OK, it's been all over the Web lately, but if you haven't seen the online teaser for the upcoming 60 Minutes episode this Sunday, it's worth taking a look.It shows 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley and crew getting roughed up at a Chinese dump while working on a story on toxic electronic waste.

It comes three months after the U.S. Governmental Accountability Office in August released its scathing report on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's failure to effectively control e-waste exports from this country. It reads, in part:

"Some exported used electronics are handled responsibly in countries with effective regulatory controls and by companies with advanced technologies, but a substantial quantity ends up in countries where disposal practices are unsafe to workers and dangerous to the environment. Recent surveys made on behalf of the United Nations found that used electronics exported from the United States to many Asian countries are dismantled under unsafe conditions, using methods like open-air incineration and acid baths to extract metals such as copper and gold. GAO observed thousands of requests for these items on e-commerce Web sites during a 3-month period -- mostly from Asian countries such as China and India but also from some in Africa." Also for your reading list, Ghanan news reports on e-dumping. And, if you have doubts, a report from Greenpeace on dumping in Ghana, as well.