Here's a warning for regulators. E-waste programs will be rolled out around the world but they are vulnerable to fraud.
As reported here, California's government-run electronic waste program has paid more than $320 million to collect and recycle computer monitors and televisions. But by dangling all that money in front of people, it has also created fraud totaling tens of millions of dollars, including illegal material smuggled in from out of state.
According to the news report, recyclers and collectors have submitted $23 million in faulty and fraudulent e-waste claims that have been rejected by the state but officials estimate that about $30 million worth of ineligible claims may have inadvertently been paid. There are plenty of bogus names on the submissions, including dead people, Hollywood celebrities and made up addresses. As a result, California has put a criminal investigator in charge of its e-waste fraud unit.
There is no doubt that e-waste is a growing area. As reported here,electronic waste accounts for 70% of all toxic waste found in landfills and that's likely to increase, particularly with developing nations developing their own waste.
The story coming out of California is that e-waste programs will have to be more carefully monitored. Otherwise, they will invite rampant fraud.
We have developed an innovative approach to e-waste that tackles three problems at once. Re-Use of old PCs and UBUNTU to empower the less fortunate – TEDxCreativeCoast – Murray Wilson – eWaste and the Social Landfill