As we upgrade at an ever faster rate, campaigners are calling for action to prevent
toxic, electronic or “ e ” waste being dumped on poor countries. The United
Nations believes we generate between 20m and 50m tonnes of e-waste around
the world each year. Agbobloshie dump site in Ghana ’ s capital, Accra, is a computer
graveyard. But PCs are not given a decent, safe burial — they are dumped
on this expanding, toxic treasure trove. Many of the well-known brands are
there: Compaq, Dell, Gateway, Philips, Canon, Hewlett Packard. Labels give
away the fact that many lived their useful lives in the UK: “ Richmond upon
Thames College, ” “ Southampton City Council, ” “ Kent County Council, ” are
just a few.