The Guardian

The rising demand for flat-screen televisions could have a greater impact on global warming than the world’s largest coal-fired power stations, a leading environmental scientist warned yesterday.

The goal of the new proposed electronics recycling fee for Ontario is to encourage manufacturers to create more environmentally friendly products. The program will charge the first importer of certain electronics, who will then decide whether to add the fee to consumers or to absorb the cost themselves.

Computers, televisions and cell phones brought to facilities to be recycled in the United States usually end up overseas, activists say. This e-waste then gets disassembled by workers in China, Inida and Nigeria, exposing them to a toxic mix of chemicals.