Recently Jon shared with us the complications involved with recycling electronics in China, and some companies efforts to improve their recycling programs, and now a few e-waste public interest groups are taking matters into their own hands.  Despite one recent crack down, the EPA seems to be having a difficult time tracking down shipments of hazardous electronic waste, and lack any sufficient protocol to ensure safe disposal.  According to Scientific American:

Worried about a “tsunami” of e-waste when new TV standards take effect on February 17, e-waste public interest groups the Basel Action Network (BAN) and the Electronics Take Back Coalition have launched a new program that will independently audit and certify electronics recyclers. The groups will hire independent consultant auditors to evaluate each company’s handling of e-waste, including full tracking of all electronics and their components until final disposal, and those who achieve so-called e-Steward certification will pay licensing fees to the organizations to run the program.

Hopefully these “e-Stewards”  will help shepherd us into a future with less e-waste and more responsible recycling programs.  I, for one, am presently preoccupied with my printer as it seems to enjoy eating paper.  And while it’s not heading to a recycling program just yet, I have a hunch about why it’s malfunctioning:

takepart by properly recycling your electronic waste with the e-Stewards and help shut down e-waste prison sweatshops.