Difference between revisions of "Intercon Solutions"

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[[File:Intercon_Sign_Closeup.jpg|thumb|400px|Close-up of Intercon Solutions' sign touting their Certifications. 2014. Copyright BAN.]]
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[[File:110705_chicago_recycler_exporting.jpg|thumb|400px|Shipping container eventually tracked to China on the property of Intercon Solutions.
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Photograph: © BAN 2009]]
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==Summary==
 
==Summary==
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Intercon Solutions, an electronics recycler based in Illinois, was found in 2011 by BAN investigators to be engaged in exporting electronic waste to Hong Kong right while they were seeking to become e-Stewards Certified. BAN notified the Hong Kong authorities and they confirmed the container photographed at Intercon’s facility and tracked to Asia was indeed contraband. Such exportation is a critical non-conformity of the e-Stewards Standard. After BAN made the news public and denied Intercon access to the e-Steward Certification program, the company sued BAN for defamation. After a lengthy legal battle, on October 9 of 2015, Intercon's case was dismissed with prejudice, and BAN was able to publicly release evidence received in large part from whistleblowers and collected in preparation for the expected court trial. The new evidence reveals that Intercon was a massive exporter of electronic waste. Such exportation was likely a violation of international, Chinese and US law.
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==Evidence & Supporting Documents==
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/2/2b/BAN_InterconExportReportOct2015.pdf '''Intercon Solutions: A Record of Deception and Dumping''']
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::Full summary of Intercon case and related evidence.
  
==Evidence==
 
*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/2/2b/BAN_InterconExportReportOct2015.pdf '''Intercon Solutions - Its Record of Export and Public Funding'''] - BAN report summarizing the Intercon Solutions case and and related evidence.
 
 
::''Supporting documents:''
 
::''Supporting documents:''
 
:::[http://wiki.ban.org/images/4/48/InterconAnnexA_Export_Feb2013.pdf Annex A - Whistleblower Documents Linking Intercon Containers to Export to Asia]
 
:::[http://wiki.ban.org/images/4/48/InterconAnnexA_Export_Feb2013.pdf Annex A - Whistleblower Documents Linking Intercon Containers to Export to Asia]
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:::[http://wiki.ban.org/images/0/02/InterconAnnexD_WebsiteScreenShots.pdf Annex D - Screenshots of No Export Language on Intercon Solutions’ Website]
 
:::[http://wiki.ban.org/images/0/02/InterconAnnexD_WebsiteScreenShots.pdf Annex D - Screenshots of No Export Language on Intercon Solutions’ Website]
  
*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/9/98/Evidentiary_ReportInterconSolutions.pdf '''Evidentiary Report of Potential e-Stewards® Violation'''] - BAN report highlighting initial cases of illegal export, presented to Intercon in July 2012.
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/b/b9/InterconContainers_Sorted_PIERSinputs_BAN2013-v2.pdf '''Spreadsheet of over 200 Intercon shipping containers.'''] ''....(note: Excel version available upon request - email [mailto:inform@ban.org inform@ban.org])''
  
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/2/2b/BAN_InterconExportReportOct2015.pdf '''Intercon Grant Review''']
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::Summarizes Intercon Solution’s Publicly Funded Grants Awarded for Domestic Recycling between 2004 & 2009.
  
==Chronology==
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/a/ae/Evidentiary_ReportInterconSolutions15-6-11-01_photo_compressed.pdf '''Evidentiary Report of Potential e-Stewards® Violation''']
::(see:[[Intercon_Solutions:chronology|'''''Intercon Solutions Chronology of Events''''']])
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::Highlighting cases of improper export, presented to Intercon in July 2012.
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/8/8b/2015-10-09_Minute_Entry_Dismissal_with_Prejudice.pdf '''Dismissal of Intercon Lawsuit with Prejudice - October 9, 2015''']
  
==Legal Battle==
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*[[:file:Brundage Indictment.pdf|'''Brian Brundage Indictment''']]
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::Brundage Indictment
  
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==Chronology==
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* [[Intercon_Solutions:chronology|'''''Intercon Solutions Detailed Chronology of Events''''']]
  
 
==Press Coverage==
 
==Press Coverage==
 
===Basel Action Network Press Releases===
 
===Basel Action Network Press Releases===
*"Toxic E-Waste Exports by Chicago Electronics Recycler Uncovered" - July 4, 2011<ref>http://www.ban.org/news/2011/07/05/toxic-e-waste-exports-by-chicago-electronics-recycler-uncovered</ref>
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*[http://www.ban.org/news/2011/07/05/toxic-e-waste-exports-by-chicago-electronics-recycler-uncovered "Toxic E-Waste Exports by Chicago Electronics Recycler Uncovered"] - July 5, 2011
*"BAN answers questions raised regarding Intercon Solutions hazardous waste exportation to developing countries and e-Stewards® Certification denial" - July 14, 2011<ref>http://archive.ban.org/ban_news/2011/140701_BAN_answers_questions_raised_regarding_Intercon_Solutions_hazardous_waste_exportation_to_developing_countries_and_estewards_certification_denial.html</ref>
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*[http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2011/111301_e_cycler_intercon_accused_of_china_shipments_takes_legal_action.html "E-cycler Intercon Accused of China Shipments Takes Legal Action"] - July 7, 2011
*"Major US Newspapers, TV, Radio Organizations File Brief in Support of Basel Action Network" - January 12, 2014<ref>http://www.ban.org/news/2014/01/13/major-us-newspapers-tv-radio-organizations-file-brief-in-support-of-the-basel-action-network</ref>
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*[http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2011/110805_intercon_case_shows_arbitration_need.html "Intercon Case Shows Arbitration Need"] - July 8, 2011
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*[http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2011/140701_BAN_answers_questions_raised_regarding_Intercon_Solutions_hazardous_waste_exportation_to_developing_countries_and_estewards_certification_denial.html "BAN answers questions raised regarding Intercon Solutions hazardous waste exportation to developing countries and e-Stewards® Certification denial"] - July 14, 2011
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*[http://www.ban.org/2012/09/04/ban-denies-defamation-allegations-launches-countersuit-against-intercon-solutions "BAN Denies Defamation Allegations, Launches Countersuit Against Intercon Solutions"] - September 4, 2012
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*[http://www.ban.org/news/2014/01/13/major-us-newspapers-tv-radio-organizations-file-brief-in-support-of-the-basel-action-network "Major US Newspapers, TV, Radio Organizations File Brief in Support of Basel Action Network"] - January 12, 2014
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**[http://www.ban.org/files/MajorMediaAmicus.pdf Supporting Major Media Amicus Brief Document]
  
===E-Scrap News Articles===
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[[File:Intercon_Office_Area.jpg|thumb|300px|Intercon Solutions office area]]
*''"Certification audit exposes exporter"'' - July 5, 2011<ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/1883</ref>
 
*''"More questions than answers in certification fallout"'' - July 15, 2011<ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/1922</ref>
 
*''"Court ruling favors Intercon Solutions"'' - July 21, 2011 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/1928</ref>
 
*''"Intercon Solutions appeals to R2, BAN"'' July 29, 2011 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/1958</ref>
 
*''"Intercon Solutions says containers cleared by Chinese inspection"'' August 5, 2011 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/1976</ref>
 
*''"Hong Kong confirms hazardous material in container"'' - August 25, 2011 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/print/2020</ref>
 
*''"Intercon Solutions files suit against BAN"'' - June 29, 2012 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/2880</ref>
 
*''"Intercon relisted as R2 certified"'' - July 5, 2012 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/2897</ref>
 
*''"BAN responds to Intercon legal filing"'' - July 12, 2012 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/2903</ref>
 
*''"BAN countersues Intercon Solutions"'' Sept 5, 2012 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/3062</ref>
 
*''"Intercon and BAN defamation battle rolls forward"'' - Sept 5, 2013 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/4148</ref>
 
*''"Basel Action Network gains media support in legal battle"'' - Jan 17, 2014 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/4521</ref>
 
*''"Intercon suit against BAN moves forward"'' - July 9, 2015 <ref>http://resource-recycling.com/node/6166</ref>
 
  
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*[http://conta.cc/2i6Y1f0 "E-waste Recycler Lawsuit Against Environmental Group Dismissed"] - October 22, 2015
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*[http://conta.cc/2gZxMCb "Owner of Prominent Chicago Electronics Recycler "Intercon Solutions" Arrested for Fraud by Federal Agents"] - December 20, 2016
  
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===E-Scrap News Articles===
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/1883 "Certification audit exposes exporter"] - July 5, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/1922 "More questions than answers in certification fallout"] - July 15, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/1928 "Court ruling favors Intercon Solutions"] - July 21, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/1958 "Intercon Solutions appeals to R2, BAN"] - July 29, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/1976 "Intercon Solutions says containers cleared by Chinese inspection"] - August 5, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/print/2020 "Hong Kong confirms hazardous material in container"] - August 25, 2011
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/2880 "Intercon Solutions files suit against BAN"] - June 29, 2012
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/2897 "Intercon relisted as R2 certified"] - July 5, 2012
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/2903 "BAN responds to Intercon legal filing"] - July 12, 2012
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/3062 "BAN countersues Intercon Solutions"] - Sept 5, 2012
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/4148 "Intercon and BAN defamation battle rolls forward"] - Sept 5, 2013
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/4521 "Basel Action Network gains media support in legal battle"] - Jan 17, 2014
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*[http://resource-recycling.com/node/6166 "Intercon suit against BAN moves forward"] - July 9, 2015
  
==References==
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===Other Media Coverage===
<references/>
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*[http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/aan-fights-to-defend-anti-slapp-laws/Article?oid=7521345 "AAN Fights to Defend Anti-SLAPP Laws"] - AAN News - January 13, 2014
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*[http://wiki.ban.org/images/0/0a/Bloomberg_Article_on_Intercon_Oct_26_2015.pdf "Environmental Advocates Accuses Recycler In Chicago of Illegal E-Waste Export to Asia"] - Bloomberg News - October 26, 2015

Latest revision as of 15:37, 20 December 2016

Close-up of Intercon Solutions' sign touting their Certifications. 2014. Copyright BAN.
Shipping container eventually tracked to China on the property of Intercon Solutions. Photograph: © BAN 2009


Summary

Intercon Solutions, an electronics recycler based in Illinois, was found in 2011 by BAN investigators to be engaged in exporting electronic waste to Hong Kong right while they were seeking to become e-Stewards Certified. BAN notified the Hong Kong authorities and they confirmed the container photographed at Intercon’s facility and tracked to Asia was indeed contraband. Such exportation is a critical non-conformity of the e-Stewards Standard. After BAN made the news public and denied Intercon access to the e-Steward Certification program, the company sued BAN for defamation. After a lengthy legal battle, on October 9 of 2015, Intercon's case was dismissed with prejudice, and BAN was able to publicly release evidence received in large part from whistleblowers and collected in preparation for the expected court trial. The new evidence reveals that Intercon was a massive exporter of electronic waste. Such exportation was likely a violation of international, Chinese and US law.


Evidence & Supporting Documents

Full summary of Intercon case and related evidence.
Supporting documents:
Annex A - Whistleblower Documents Linking Intercon Containers to Export to Asia
Annex B - Additional Documents Linking Intercon Containers to Export to Asia
Annex C - Highlighted Excerpts of Intercon Solutions Approved Applications for Public Funding
Annex D - Screenshots of No Export Language on Intercon Solutions’ Website
Summarizes Intercon Solution’s Publicly Funded Grants Awarded for Domestic Recycling between 2004 & 2009.
Highlighting cases of improper export, presented to Intercon in July 2012.
Brundage Indictment

Chronology

Press Coverage

Basel Action Network Press Releases

Intercon Solutions office area

E-Scrap News Articles

Other Media Coverage