BASEL ACTION NETWORK ARTICLE SUMMARY

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BASEL ACTION 
NETWORK ARTICLE SUMMARY
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The proliferation of electronic devices during
the 1990s created a hazardous waste epidemic
within the United States. In 1997, a 501(c)3
charitable organization formed to combat the
growing public health threat of hazardous
electronics waste pollution. Over nearly 20
years, Basel Action Network (BAN) has emerged as
the only charitable organization that provides
electronic waste information for scholars and
journalists. The organization expanded its roles
in identifying polluters by presenting
information in public forums, including on the
BAN website. On its website, BAN recently
disclosed news that concerns the indictment of an
electronics recycling firm executive for criminal
trafficking.
http//www.allgreenrecycling.com
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E-World Executive Focus of US Government Criminal
Investigation
Records unsealed from the Federal District Court
in San Diego confirm the indictment of E-World
Recyclers CEO, Robert Erie. Mr. Eries
indictment, which the government issued in late
December of 2014, included the charges of
perjury, falsifying business records, and
trafficking counterfeit goods. Erie presented the
court a guilty plea, with the case still pending
before the federal bench as of June 2015. E-World
plays an integral role in the hazardous
electronics waste disposal industry, with
customers for the company including Sony, FedEx,
Hitachi, and Samsung.
http//www.allgreenrecycling.com
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Details of the Indictment The United States
government charged E-World for concealing the
storage of imitation consumer electronics
products that the company was hired to destroy.
Federal charges claim that beginning in late
2009, E-World received 38 shipments of
counterfeit designer electronics, such as
headphones and smart watches. Under a contract
signed with Cycle Chem, Incorporated, E-World had
the legal obligation to destroy the counterfeit
electronics. However, as the Department of
Homeland Security and Customs and Border
Protection Agency discovered, an E-World employee
hid all of the counterfeit electronics at a
neighbors home and private storage facility. Mr.
Erie then attempted to sell the fake electronics
products, most of which the indictment claims
sold under well-known brand names. The United
States government also charged Mr. Erie with
presenting false reports that detailed the
destruction of the counterfeit goods.
http//www.allgreenrecycling.com
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BAN Reacts to E-World Indictment
After the indictment, BANs Executive Director,
Jim Puckett, issued a statement that emphasized
the continuing problem of corruption within the
electronics recycling industry. The electronics
recycling industry continues to be engulfed in
scandal after scandal, which has involved
unethical exportation, dumping, or abandonment of
hazardous materials and exposure of private
data, said Puckett. And now we see yet another
example of corporate malfeasance by one of the
recycling industrys leading actors and this time
we are talking about blatant criminal fraud. I
think the lesson here is to use only electronics
recyclers employing the most accountable
certification programs and to back it up with
your own due diligence.
http//www.allgreenrecycling.com
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• In response to the growing number of egregious
  electronics recycling incidents, BAN unveiled the
  e-Stewards Certification program to promote
  electronics recyclers that follow strict
  government mandated electronics recycling
  guidelines. BAN removes any organization that
  violates the proper methods for recycling
  hazardous electronics components, as well as
  mishandles the destruction of private data.
• The implications of the E-World indictment
  include the possible loss of business with the
  companys high-profile clients. Erie faces felony
  charges that potentially include a maximum of 10
  years in a federal prison and a fine that
  approaches 2 million. The next court date on
  June 29 should set the date for the federal
  trial.

http//www.allgreenrecycling.com
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Questions? Comments?   Website
http//www.allgreenrecycling.com/ All Green
Recycling info_at_allgreenrecycling.com (800)
780-0347    Resources http//www.consumerreports.
org/cro/2012/04/how-to-recycle-old-electronics-dev
ices/index.htm http//www.electronicstakeback.com/
how-to-recycle-electronics/