AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

The hidden costs of Electronics Disposal

This San Jose Mercury News article describes the poor working conditions of Aisian workers who disassemble old electronics equipment. This is just another example of how Globalism and the "race to the bottom" is affecting the world in which we live.


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I recall from basic economics that for supply and demand to reach an optimal level of production of a type of goods, all the costs of the goods must be internalized into the goods. Right now, for many of our products, the cost are extenralized. For elelectronic goods, it is the disposal costs. For automobiles, it is the pollution and the risk that larger vehicles impose on the smaller ones. Legislatively, we need to be more creative about bringing these costs into the costs of the goods. As consumers and voters, we need to be more honest and compassionate, and we need to be willing to pay these true costs and not look for a free lunch.

For electronics, this means that there should be a disposal fee assessed at the point of purchase. For cars, we should pay a carbon tax that can be directed towards conservation efforts and alternative energy technology.