The history of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) closely parallels the history of the high-tech industry. Established in 1982, SVTC was a leader in confronting the environmental and worker health impacts of high-tech manufacturing in Silicon Valley. Investigations into serious health problems in San Jose (including cancer, miscarriages and birth defects) uncovered the contamination of drinking water; a problem traced to the improper handling of toxic chemicals and leaking underground storage tanks at Fairchild Semiconductor and IBM. As the industry expands globally, those health and environmental problems are being repeated around the world. SVTC has been a pioneer in documenting and publicizing this “toxic footprint” of the growing electronics industry.
Over the past 25 years, SVTC successfully shared its experience and knowledge with organizations and communities locally, nationally and globally as we work to build an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future. SVTC oversees and coordinates projects at the national and international level that promote clean production, environmental and occupational health, manufacturer take-back, and responsible recycling, which includes ending the use of U.S. prison labor or the export of hazardous e-waste for recycling.
CAMPAIGNS
In 2005 the U. S. generated approximately 2 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste). Much of this was exported to impoverished countries such as China, India and Nigeria that do not have the infrastructure to safely manage it. Toxic materials impact communities in their water and air; and at the same time electronic workers are paid little and do not receive sufficient protection or training about the toxic hazards. These conditions are similar for prisoners in the U.S. who dismantle e-waste. SVTC will draw attention to this ignored waste issue by initiating a public awareness campaign and engaging individuals and governments in California.
There are more than 1,000 hazardous chemicals in electronics. Workers, communities and consumers are not aware of the risk of exposure during production, recycling and product end of life procedures. SVTC plans to research and collect data so we have a better understanding of these chemicals. After compiling this information, SVTC will serve as a resource to impacted communities and workers. This work to reduce chemicals in electronics will take us one step closer to our goal of improving public health and protecting the environment.
With wide-spread national attention upon “green jobs," SVTC’s goal is to ensure that the concept of green jobs is related to the entire production life cycle (including production and disposal). With the emergence of clean tech companies earning $2.9 billion in 2006 (solar panels, fuel cells and advanced materials (i.e. nanomaterials) SVTC will hold the industry accountable to make sure it is indeed clean and truly safe for the environment, workers and communities.
If you are interested in protecting the environment and worker and community health, please visit www.svtc.org/signup to sign up for our e-alerts!
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