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E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world and has emerged as a lucrative business. The UN Environment Developed nations dump e-waste in “developing” Asian countries (India , Bangladesh , China and Pakistan ) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally, approximately 400,000 tons each year. Almost all of it is being recycled in poor urban locations, exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling or the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper. Up to 30,000 people in Delhi, among them 6,000 children, live on this activity. Ι was in Shastri Park neighborhood, where monitors and towers are dismantled by fathers, mothers and kids. I had to wait some days for the green light, in order to enter to the restricted recycling-ghetto of Mandoli. There, workers specialize in bathing the motherboards with acid to obtain metals by euro to the day. Photographs and article by Maro Kouri

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718 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tons each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions, exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling or the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Shastri Park area. Asfia, 3 years old, finds comfort in her father’s embrace, unaware that the computer parts she has been playing with pose a threat to her fragile health.   © Maro Kouri 719 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tons each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locations exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Mohammad Saquil's kitchen, just some stairs above the family's unauthorised recycling unit.These days e-mails travel faster than pigeons. So does toxic dust... © Maro Kouri 720 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded.These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Man with a keyboard at an informal recycling unit in Shastri Park, a principal recycling area in Delhi © Maro Kouri 721 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///In Shastri Park area, 8year Rubinna in her house. Her 34y father Mohammad Saqil breaks discarded computers to separate to iron, silver, brass and then sell them. © Maro Kouri 722 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///20y Sharukh (L) and 22y Shaddam (R) collect the brass, after dismantling computers in an informal recycling unit in Seelampur, one of the main recycling areas in new Delhi. © Maro Kouri 723 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///14y Raju carries discarded monitors in Seelampur, one of the main recycling areas in new Delhi © Maro Kouri 724 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///22y. Suleman Malik (L) with Shaddam (R) gather the brass from broken computers in Seelampur, one of the main recycling areas in new Delhi, earning 3000 rupees per month © Maro Kouri 725 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///22y Shaddam breaks computers in Seelampur, one of the main recycling areas in new Delhi © Maro Kouri 726 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///14y Rajhu brings the lunch in the informal recycling unit in Seelampur, one of the main recycling areas in New Delhi © Maro Kouri 727 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Shastri Park, one of the mainest illegal recycling areas of Delhi © Maro Kouri 728 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///The Illegal e-waste burning at Shastri Park, a main recycling area of Delhi © Maro Kouri 729 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper/// © Maro Kouri 730 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Young man smokes beadie (Indian tobacco) outside Shastri Park, one of the most recycling areas in Delhi © Maro Kouri 731 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tons each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///“What does a mother have in common with a motherboard?” It could be a silly joke but it is no laughing matter. The toxic dust Savina carries from the PC she has been dismantling will find its way in the meal she’s on her way to prepare on the kitchen floor, which is just some stairs above her unauthorised e-recycling unit. © Maro Kouri 732 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants)////20y Amir dismantles mouses at an informal recycling unit in Shastri Park, a main recycling area in Delhi © Maro Kouri 733 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///In Shastri Park the Saqil family. Downstairs from their bedroom, 34y father Mohammad and 30y mother Savina break discarded computers to separate to iron, silver, brass and then sell them. © Maro Kouri 734 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tons each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///15y Ladli in sari, removes manually the intergrated circuits (ICs), chips, gold pins, condensers, etc, at an informal and illegal recycling unit in Mandoli, a main recycling area of Delhi © Maro Kouri 735 E-waste has become the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximately 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban localions exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants)///Boy carries plastic jerry-cans filled with acid in which Printed Circuit Boards (PSBs) are dipped, extracting copper through an extremely hazardous process © Maro Kouri 737 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Woman in sary scratch printed circuit boards breathing toxic dust © Maro Kouri 738 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Boy carries water for the waterbath of the delsolderded Printed Circuit Boards (PSBs) which are dipped in acid resulting copper by a very hazardous process © Maro Kouri 739 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Illegaly Recycling of Printed Circuit Boards (PSBs) which are dipped in acid results in copper by a very hazardous process © Maro Kouri 740 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally generating an approximate 145,000 tones of e-waste each year. Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants) that needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///Boy in Shastri park one of the main recycling areas in Delhi © Maro Kouri 743 E-waste has come the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UN Enviroment Developed nations dump e-waste in developing Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan) through illegal trade routes. India receives as much e-waste as it generates internally (approximate 145,000 tones each year). Almost all of it, is being recycled in many poor urban locality exposing people and environment to hazardous heavy metals and deadly toxins such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants). E-waste needs to be handled safely so that it does not jeopardize either the workers involved in recycling on the environment. Almost all electronic and electrical appliances, like computers, mobile phones, iPods, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions etc, constitute e-waste after being discarded. The recycling of e-waste has emerged as a lucrative business. These products are stripped down to yield valuable metals like platinum, gold and copper///In Shastri Park area, 3y Asfia in her house full of discarded computers © Maro Kouri 742 In Shastri Park area, 3year Asfia in her house plays with electronic discarded staff. Workers behind her break discarded computers to separate to iron, silver,brass and then sell them. © Maro Kouri
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