Reuse is a well-known idea for dealing with electronic waste such as old computers and phones. Manycompanies send used electronic items from the US to developing nations. They claim to be reusing those items, and also helping the developing nations to modernize themselves. However, the truth may be quite different. The Basel Action Network of Seatle, Washington, recently reported that three-quarters of the electronic itemsshipped to Lagos, Nigeria, are in fact broken. As a result, lots of electronic waste is thrown away along rivers androads. Often it is picked by the very poor, who come in contact with toxic(有毒的)things in the broken equipment. Some of those things are especially dangerous to the health of growing children. Richard of the Basel Action Network believes companies in developed nations are actually throwing away theirelectronic waste cheaply, leaving the developing world to deal with the problems it causes.