Dell, Goodwill Monitoring E-Waste in 'Likely Violation' of Guatemala Laws: BAN

Four of six LCD monitors exported as e-waste to Guatemala were in “likely violation” of the country’s import laws and Dell’s corporate policy, said the Basel Action Network Wednesday. GPS monitoring of recyclers and takeback programs found the electronic waste LCDs were exported after a donation to the Dell/Goodwill partnership known as Dell Reconnect, the partnership’s third such violation, said BAN. Under the Basel Convention, it's illegal for Guatemala to receive electronic waste from the U.S. All Reconnect program electronic waste should go directly to Dell recycling partners, but six broken mercury lamp back-lit LCD computer monitors fitted with GPS trackers that BAN delivered to a Washington, D.C., Goodwill store never went through the proper Dell recycling process, BAN said. Four of the monitors went to Guatemala City, two others to solid waste disposal companies in Maryland, it said. According to Dell, which BAN contacted, the flat screens were accidentally put into a bin full of used textiles at Goodwill. Goodwill of Greater Washington says it will take two corrective actions: require Whitehouse and Schapiro (the likely exporter) to set aside any found electronics and agree to refresh employee training, said BAN. Dell didn't comment Thursday.