Mountain of Waste
The city of Guiyu is home to 5,500 businesses devoted to processing discarded electronics, known as e-waste. According to local websites, the region dismantles 1.5 million pounds of junked computers, cell phones and other devices a year.
Specialized
The niche industry employs tens of thousands of people, many of them in small, family-run workshops.
Huge Supply
Almost 80% of the discarded electronics come from overseas, including the United States.
Drilling
According to Guiyu's own website, the e-waste business generates $75 million a year for the town.
Sorting
Circuit boards, which can contain tiny amounts of gold and silver, are treated with acid baths.
Workshops
Health reports from the region say that Guiyu's children suffer from an extremely high rate of lead poisoning.
Hard Work
According to reports from nearby Shantou University, Guiyu has the highest level of cancer-causing dioxins in the world and an elevated rate of miscarriages.
clipped from www.time.com
clipped from www.time.com
clipped from www.time.com
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