Saturday, April 08, 2006

Prison Work Recycling Computers Poses Health Risks

Xanthippas found this story on NPR. Evidently at some prisons, prisoners are being used to "recycle" e-waste. If you remember from my previous post on the subject, this can include highly toxic substances.

This practice amounts to a human rights abuse by our prison systems that do this. Evidently at times some of them have been told to shut down, but they started back up as soon as the inspector was gone. It's an easy way for a prison to make some money, but it's a heinous practice. When inmates have done their time, that's that and their debt to society is paid. They shouldn't have to suffer disease and illness for the rest of their lives.

On a positive note, you can find places at least to recycle old cell phones. We have free boxes at the library I work at and I saw them at the Whole Foods Market. Use them!

1 comment:

adam said...

Another story uncovered by Natwu!