The problems lies in the fact that these hazardous materials are not being disposed of properly by many of these recycling facilities, but are being shipped to developing nations and causing a lot of pollution and environmental problems in those areas. 

60 minutes did story on the way that companies that we believe are helping to recycle and stop pollution are causing more problems.  They are shifting where pollution occurs from wealthy nations ,like the United States, to places like China. Pollution caused by e-waste in China and other nations is not a new thing and the environment that these people live in has gotten worse.

How can you stop e-waste?

One way is to reuse.  Instead of getting the latest gadget, try to keep them longer and use them as long as you can.  That will save money in your wallet and help your earth.  

Another way to prevent e-waste  is to reduce the amount of electronic equipment we purchase in the first place.   We don’t need to every new electronic product that comes on the market.  Sometime we purchase an item and it stays in the closet, in the cabinet or the shelf and collects dust. 

 
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the United Nations Environment Programme says that growing marine litter is harming oceans and beaches worldwide.  It launched a report that takes stock of the growing garbage in 12 major regional seas.  UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, says that “marine litter could be dramatically reduced by improving waste reduction, waste management and recycling initiatives”.  He also calls for a worldwide ban on thin film plastic bags.  In addition to this report, UNEP introduced a new online system which has the most globally comprehensive list of marine and terrestrial protected areas.

It has become fashionable to have reusable cloth bags so instituting a ban on plastic bags will not be a huge shock .  Not everyone uses those bags during their shopping excursion, but with a ban it would become necessary.  Some stores sell the reusable clothe bags for 99 cents.  But if more demand for those reusable bags were occur, I would not be surprised to the prices of those bags fall even lower.

According to KansasCity.com

The ban is already being tested in China, where retailers giving out thin bags can be fined up to $1,464. According to one nationwide survey, 40 billion fewer plastic bags were given out in grocery stores after the law’s enactment. In addition, Ireland managed to cut single-use plastic bag consumption 90 percent by levying a fee on each bag that consumers use.

In the United States, only San Francisco has completely banned plastic bags; Los Angeles will do so in 2010. Also, the city council in Washington, D.C., is set to vote on a five-cent-a-bag tax later this month. On first reading, the bill passed unanimously. Similar proposals have failed in New York and Philadelphia.

We will have to see how many other cities throughout the United States will also ban plastic bags.

Sources:KansasCity.com UN.org