Frontline Season 9 Episode 6 Global Dumping Ground

In the season 9 episode 6 of Frontline titled "Global Dumping Ground," the show takes an in-depth look at the growing environmental issue of electronic waste or e-waste. The episode explores the global trade of e-waste from developed countries like the United States to developing countries like China, Ghana and India where it is dumped causing severe environmental and health hazards.

Through interviews with experts, waste workers, and community members in both developed and developing countries, the episode highlights the devastating impact the e-waste trade is having on communities. Viewers are taken on a journey from the US where outdated electronics are collected, to the ports where they are shipped to developing countries, and ultimately to the destination countries where workers pick apart the e-waste, burning it in open-air pits that release toxic chemicals into the air and water causing serious health problems.

Frontline’s "Global Dumping Ground" episode also examines the business practices that drive the e-waste trade, including the outsourcing of the collection and recycling of electronics to third-party companies who then sell these electronics to developing countries for a profit. The episode underscores the lack of regulations and guidelines pertaining to the disposal of e-waste which has led to the creation of this dangerous and exploitative global industry.

The episode sheds light on the alarming health impacts faced by workers who are given little to no protective gear while handling dangerous chemicals and metals found in electronics. It also looks at how the toxic waste from electronic waste is contaminating the air, land and water of local communities, posing a grave threat to their health and well-being.

Frontline’s "Global Dumping Ground" takes a broad-based approach to the e-waste crisis, examining the systemic failures that allow for this highly profitable trade in hazardous materials, including the role of both governments and corporations in perpetuating the trade. The episode features interviews with environmental activists, university researchers, industry insiders, and policy makers, offering an in-depth and comprehensive look at a complex problem affecting the entire planet.

Overall, viewers of Frontline’s "Global Dumping Ground" will come away with a deep understanding of the far-reaching impacts of e-waste on individuals, communities, and the environment. The episode paints a sobering picture of the challenges that lie ahead as we seek to address this issue and create a more sustainable future for all people.