GUIYU, CHINA
2
Guiyu is a small town in China known as the "e-waste capital
of the world." The town is home to thousands of e-waste recy-
cling factories, which use dangerous methods to extract valu-
able materials from e-waste. The result has been widespread
soil, water, and air pollution. In 2009, the Chinese government
began a cleanup effort in Guiyu, but it is estimated that it will
take decades for the environment to recover.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S.
6
The e-waste dumpsite in St. Louis, Missouri, was created in the 1990s when a company called
Environmental Enterprises began illegally dumping e-waste at the site. The dumping caused
widespread environmental contamination and led to several health problems in the local pop-
ulation. The dumpsite was eventually cleaned up in 2004, but the environmental damage is still
being felt today.
Toxic Site Examples Polluted by E-Waste Globally.
TALARA, PERU
4
Talara is a coastal city in Peru pol-
luted by e-waste. The pollution
is the result of illegal dumping of
e-waste by international compa-
nies. The e-waste contains a variety
of hazardous materials, including
lead, mercury, and cadmium. These
materials have contaminated the
soil, water, and air, and have caused
a number of health problems in
the local population. In 2015, the
Peruvian government launched
a cleanup effort in Talara, but it is
estimated that it will take decades
for the environment to recover.
WARREN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.
5
The e-waste dumpsite in Warren County, North Carolina, was
created in 1988 when the state government approved the
dumping of 2.7 million pounds of hazardous waste, including
e-waste, at the site. The dumping caused widespread environ-
mental contamination and led to a number of health problems in
the local population. The dumpsite was eventually closed in 1992,
but the environmental damage is still being felt today.
AGBOGBLOSHIE, GHANA
3
Agbogbloshie is a large e-waste dumpsite in Ghana. The dumpsite is home to thousands of people who work as scav-
engers, sorting through the e-waste to find valuable materials. The work is dangerous, and the environment is heavily
polluted. In 2015, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a cleanup effort in Agbogbloshie, but
it is estimated that the environment will take many years to recover.
