The Daily The ‘Clean’ Technology That’s Poisoning People
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Dec 2, 2025 
Peter S. Goodman, a journalist for The New York Times, dives deep into the hazardous reality of recycled lead in battery supply chains. He reveals how the U.S. auto industry promotes battery recycling as an eco-friendly achievement while ignoring the severe health impacts on communities in Nigeria. Goodman contrasts safe recycling practices in the U.S. with dangerous smelting operations abroad. He discusses the failures of audits and enforcement, and highlights the moral dilemmas around consumer costs for truly safe recycling.
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How The Reporting Partnership Began
- Peter S. Goodman joined an investigation after Will Fitzgibbon's reporting exposed horrific lead recycling in Nigeria.
- He traveled to Lagos-area sites to document conditions and trace supply chains to U.S. battery makers.
On-The-Ground Scenes In Ogijo
- Goodman visited Ogijo near Lagos and spoke with families living beside smelters emitting heavy smoke and dust.
- He observed coughing, headaches, and children attending schools adjacent to the factories.
* stark Contrast Between Proper And Informal Recycling*
- Proper battery recycling uses automated systems, emissions controls, and safety gear to prevent contamination.
- In Nigeria, workers used machetes and open-air furnaces, causing visible smoke, acid spills, and airborne lead exposure.