Santa Clara County supervisors this week passed what is believed to be the first law of its kind to ensure that electronic waste -- computers and other electronic appliances -- isn't exported out of the country for recycling.
Recyclers have a financial incentive to export e-waste to developing countries where it can be broken down at lower cost. But unregulated recycling practices in those countries often have children breaking apart the devices and exposing themselves to lead, mercury and other toxic materials.
Because only the federal government can directly control international trade, the county ordinance approved Tuesday requires anyone who collects e-waste to bring it to a certified recycler. The recyclers must be certified bye-Stewards, a program that seeks to prevent electronic waste from being shipped to poor countries.
Supervisor Liz Kniss, who requested in December 2010 for the ordinance to be drafted, said she first became aware of the issue when she worked at Sun Microsystems. She said it is the first law in the U.S. to regulate e-waste disposal out of the country.
"Years ago, I saw just an awful video of kids in China or India who were attempting to get the valuables out of these electronics by burning them," she said. "Of course it's extremely toxic."
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