The rapid growth of electronic consumption worldwide, such as television set, computers, mobile devices and household appliances is valued at $1 trillion each year in the electronic market.[1] This increase in demand, which often combined with shorter product life cycles with frequent upgrades and replacement, has led to growing concerns about electronic waste. In year 2022 alone, there was an estimate of 62 million tones of e-waste produced around the world.^[1]

Research has shown that large quantities of this e-waste are transported from industrialized nations, namely the US and the European countries (Global North) to developing regions such as China, Africa, India and other Asian countries (Global South), where environmental regulations and worker protections may be limited.[2] This e-waste often contains hazardous substances such as heavy metals and toxic compounds namely lead, mercury, cadmium and others, release into the air and wastewaters during recycling and disposal processes.[3] This could potentially cause health hazards and environmental pollution for communities in those countries that manages the e-waste and toxic substances. Some regions [4] adopt informal recycling methods that include open burning of wires, acid baths to extract metals and manual dismantling without protection are common. [5] These high-risk practices especially common among millions of women workers and child labor in those poor populations.^[1]

Apart from limited recycling facilities and regulations in less developed countries, industrialized countries, particularly the United States, have been criticized for lacking strong federal regulations over e-waste exports and has not fully adopted the stricter international agreement such as the Basel Convention, on shipment of hazardous wastes.[6] Electronics consumer goods are defined as "special waste" under US regulation and shipped as recyclable overseas to be managed.[7]

As some research (among many others) and the claim of the dominant narrative of industrialized countries "dumping" e-waste to less developed regions of the world by SVTC, among other non-profits, this has reflected a form of environmental injustice where the cost of disposal shifted to local populations in those poorer countries.[8] This narrative, though it's not inaccurate in itself, its message often implied or framed as exploitative in nature.

Despite the limitation on e-waste regulation in Global North/South and its overall health risks, global flow of e-waste trade exists between countries. However, some studies suggest that global e-waste circulation is complex and uneven, to consider that the "dumping" narrative as oversimplistic, as there are other factors to consider.^[2] Some studies suggest that many imported electronics are functional or repairable rather than waste.^[2] For example, 91% import waste to Nigeria are functional or repairable, while in Ghana, this is about 85% used, not waste.^[2] Secondly, the same study also shows e-waste trade is not one-directional as it also shows Global South-North flows exist.^[2] Additionally, in the heart of the e-waste issue is also show how reuse and repair of electronics become central and drivers for demand in affordable electronics^[2], especially in the poor region of the world. In many cases, the e-waste recycle and repair sector is a growing sector in some part of the world, where it provides livelihoods to marginalized people and communities, growing alongside those harm and health risks.^[3]

In response to these issues, the SVTC has focused on promoting safer and more sustainable approaches, both locally and worldwide on electronics production and disposal.^[4] As a policy-focused and coalition-based organization, SVTC has been involved in promoting the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as state policy within the United States, in which producers are made responsible for electronic disposal and recycling of their products instead of shifting cost to consumers or taxpayers.^[5] With EPR, also known as Producer Takeback in place as legislature, ensures electronic producers recycle and manage their e-waste responsibly and reduce e-waste export to other countries where child labors exploitation are common.^[5]

Since its inception in 1990 in Sweden, EPR has since slowly expanded to packaging and other product categories such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, paint and many others.[9] EPR also adopted worldwide in countries such as China, EU, India and Mexico.[10]

Additionally, SVTC also established the International Campaign for Responsible Technology (ICRT), an "international solidarity networks" which include activists and organizations around the world to "...promote corporate and government accountability in the global electronics industry."^[6] ICRT originated in the Silicon Valley,^[6] has a group of diverse supportive networks worldwide in countries such as Hong Kong, USA, Philippines, China, Indonesia, UK, Taiwan and Vietnam addressing different issues concerning labor rights, workers health and safety, environment and economy at the grassroots levels.[11]

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