The proliferation of cellphones, computers, television sets and other gizmos has a downside. The growing consumption of digital products is generating mountains of e-waste, whose disposal is posing serious health and environmental risks. But recycling of e-garbage is also providing jobs to hundreds of thousands in many parts of the developing world. China is at the heart of reconciling this contradiction between guaranteeing much needed incomes and preserving clean air, water and soil, necessary for public health.
