U.S Companies Halt Battery Recycling in Mexico Scrap Monster
go to original November 8, 2014

IBM, AT&T, and Sprint are refusing to export used lead batteries to Mexico for recycling due to pollution and health concerns in that country previously documented by Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) and Fronteras Comunes.

The companies use massive amounts of lead batteries in server farms and cell phone towers for backup power and sell their used batteries to recyclers.

Harmful lead exposures from inadequate recycling procedures in Mexico were highlighted last year in a report titled “Hazardous Trade?” by the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) under NAFTA.  To continue addressing this issue, the CEC is held a meeting in Mexico City to help improve standards for the recycling industry.

The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and other media also exposed the impacts of extensive pollution from Mexican facilities due to poorly regulated lead battery recycling.  

“As more U.S companies stop doing business with Mexico due to the country’s weak environmental laws, it will ultimately undermine the economy.” said Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director of OK International.

“The Mexican government must improve our environmental laws and enforcement because more and more U.S. companies will refuse to have work done here,” said Marisa Jacott, Director of Comunes Fronteras.  

 “Regulating extremely hazardous industries is not just good public health policy, but it is also important for economic development.” she added.

Read the rest at Scrap Monster

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