"The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted on March 22, 1989 and enforced on May 5, 1992. Since then, the USA, one of the world's largest e-waste producers, has not ratified this Convention or the Basel Ban Amendment. Communities are still debating the legal loophole, which permits the export of whole products to other countries provided it is not for recycling [...] Greater efforts and scientific approaches are needed for future e-product designs of minimal toxic metal and compound use, reaping greater benefits than debating the definition and handling responsibilities of e-waste recycling."

Source: Man, M., R. Naidu, and M.H. Wong. 2013. ‘Persistent Toxic Substances Released from Uncontrolled E-Waste Recycling and Actions for the Future’. Science of the Total Environment 463–464: 1133–37. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.017.