The ‘Hidden Tsunami’: How U.S. E-Waste Is Flooding Southeast Asia

A shocking new report by the Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN) exposes how the United States is exporting millions of tons of electronic waste to Southeast Asia, creating what researchers describe as a “hidden tsunami” of pollution.

The two-year investigation identified at least 10 American recycling companies secretly shipping used electronics—such as phones, laptops, and servers—to developing nations, particularly Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Each month, roughly 2,000 containers—about 33,000 metric tons—of e-waste leave U.S. ports. Much of it is dismantled by hand in unsafe, unregulated facilities, where workers are exposed to hazardous substances like mercury, cadmium, and lead.

Despite international laws like the Basel Convention banning such exports, the U.S. remains the only industrialized nation yet to ratify the treaty.

Experts warn that this unregulated trade not only poisons workers and communities but also constitutes a form of “waste colonialism,” transferring toxic burdens from rich nations to poorer ones.

Environmental groups are urging Washington to ratify the Basel Convention and enforce stricter oversight to stop illegal exports and hold recycling firms accountable.