Strategies for an efficient and controled management of e-waste
Skopje, 23rd November 2011
David Rochat, SOFIES
2
Contents
■Why is e-waste a problem and why do / should we care?
■Where to start and how to go forward
Why is e-waste a problem and why do/should we care?
Why is e-waste an issue?
The problems related to e-waste
E-waste management poses problems of two kinds:
■Because of its toxic content, dumping e-waste into the environment will contaminate to soil and groundwater
indirect contamination of communities
■Because of improper recycling practices, can affect the workers, their communities and the environment
Wild dumping of e-waste
Wild dumping of e-waste
The problems related to e-waste
E-waste management poses problems of two kinds:
■Because of its toxic content, dumping e-waste into the environment will contaminate to soil and groundwater
indirect contamination of communities
■Because of improper recycling practices, can affect the workers, their communities and the environment
Improper recycling practices
Improper recycling practices
Improper recycling practices
Keller, 2005
12
Low efficiency (data from the informal sector in India)
13
Low efficiency : not any better in the formal sector!
How can a maximal value be recovered?
Electronics industry: a big consumer of resources
The (lost?) opportunities related to e-waste
E-waste management can present fabulous opportunities:
■Because of its valuable content, e-waste recycling can create added value to the recycling sector
■The recovery of metals and other valuable materials gives privileged access to expensive resources
■Some materials contained in e-waste are very rare controlling such materials provides strategic advantages to national economies (e.g. Indium, predicted first natural element we will run out of)
Improper recycling practices lead to a loss of value!
So, where do we start ?
18
Conduct a nation-wide e-waste assessment: know what’s going on
■ the description and assessment of e-waste management practices in the formal and the informal sector
■ assessment of mass flows
■ potential impact to human health and the environment
■ an assessment of needs to ensure environmentally sound management, and a detailed description of the legal and regulatory infrastructures in place
■ Recommendations for the development of an environmentally sound management policies for e-waste management
■ The results of the country assessments are shared with all stakeholders
19
Result of national assessment (Example)
1
2
3
End-of-life equipment from corporate consumer:- Often declared as „donation“ for cheap disposal
Material recovery in the informal sector:- Manual dismantling of hazardous component- Wires and cable burning- precious metal recovery in a hazardous manner (e.g. gold leaching)
Informal dumping and burning:- Emissions from dumped residues- Emissions from informal burning sites
Consume Collect Recover DisposeFunction Material Energy
ImportersManufacturers
Retailer
Private Consumer
Informal Collector Informal
Sector
System Boundary
Imports(Donations)
CorporateConsumer
Scrap Dealers
Middlemen(Auctions)
LandfillRepair &
Refurbish InformalDumping &
Burning1
2
3
20
Develop a Framework for a National Strategy (Example)
Consume Collect Recover DisposeFunction Material Energy
ImportersManufacturers
Retailer
Private Consumer
Informal Collector
Large Recyclers
System Boundary
Imports(Donations)
CorporateConsumer
Authorized Dealers
Middlemen(Auctions)
LandfillRepair &
Refurbish Informal Dumping &
Burning
Smelter Refinery
Small recyclers
Policy & Legislation Business & Finance Technology & SkillsInterventionMechanisms:
• Licensing• Legislation
• Technical control and fixed contracts• New business models
• Knowledge and technology transfer• Formalizing the informal sector• Trainings
Marketing & Awareness
• Information Campaigns on all levels
Monitoring & Control
• Standards• Audits• Monitoring Massflows
Conclusion
■ e-waste presents a threat, as much as it presents an opportunity
■ there is no simple answer tackle the problem from its different aspects (education, legal, technical, economic, etc.)
■ A proper management strategy can significantly reduce threats and increase opportunities
Many nations have started to react
Join the global network!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
www.ewasteguide.info [email protected]
Top Related