BCRC-Egypt E-waste Activities 2006-2009 Prof Dr. Hani Moubasher Director, Basel convention Regional Center for training and Technology Transfer for the.

BCRC-Egypt E-waste Activities2006-2009

Prof Dr. Hani MoubasherDirector, Basel convention Regional Center for training

and Technology Transfer for the Arab States- Cairo University-Egypt

Tel:+202 35719 688 Fax: +202 35717565 email: [email protected]

Basel convention Regional Center for training and Technology Transfer for the Arab States

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Background• Since 2006 BCRC-Egypt started to implement programmed and demonstration

activities that are directly linked to the needs of the region and to the priorities set forth in the project document (feasibility study) and in the Basel Convention Strategic Plan.

• Most of the activities implemented from Jan 2006 until now focused on legal and institutional capacity building of the BC competent authorities of the member countries in the region.

• Region’s needs are continuously updated and priority issues keep changing, • Recently, e-waste became a priority waste among many countries in the region,

e.g. Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Tunisia, Kuwait and Algeria.• Pilot assessment of the e-waste and e-waste recycling facilities conducted in

selected countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) by national staff with limited resources from BCRC-Egypt project.

• More countries are planning for e-waste assessment projects and management measures.

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Background

Since E-waste has become a global worry, BCRC-Egypt started to promote e-waste awareness issues via its newsletter and through media interviews and newspapers articles. Main issues highlighted:

• E-waste as source hazardous wastes. • Electric and electronic equipment contain over

1,000 different substances including toxic heavy metals and organics which can pose serious environmental pollution problem upon irresponsible disposal;

• E-wastes are characterized by a high rate of generation.

• E-waste has been identified as the fastest growing waste stream in the world; forecast to soon reach 40 million tonnes a year.

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

• The European Environment Agency has calculated that the volume of e-waste is rising about three times faster than any other form of municipal waste.

• E-waste can be an overland mine for specific metals.

E-WASTE is A GLOBAL CRISIS to be challenged

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Current interest in e-waste and related initiatives

• GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative) : a global partnership of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies that promotes technologies for a sustainable development.

• StEP – an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and the science sector actively participating in StEP,

• UNESCO Computer equipment recycling guidelines for Africa• Partnership on used and end of life Mobile Phones (MPPI) –

Basel Convention

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

• Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) - Basel Convention

• CEDARE E-waste Forum: Circulating Success.• Many other initiatives by manufacturers for

recycling end of life products belong to them. (corporate responsibilities; e.g hp, Canon, …..)

All these initiatives work enthusiastically towards promoting sound management practices to avoid impacts of e-wastes.

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Common Health effects associated with e-waste dumping and burning

• Pollution of ground water with heavy and poisonous metals.• Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood

systems and kidney damage. • Affects brain development of children.• Bioaccumulation of Hg in fishes, causes respiratory and skin

disorders. • Hexavalent chromium (Cr) VI causes asthmatic bronchitis and

DNA damage. • Burning plastic components and cables produces dioxin which is

known to cause: – Reproductive and developmental problems; – Immune system damage; – Interfere with regulatory hormones

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

BCRC-Egypt e-waste related activities

• E-waste training session 12-13/3/2007• Assessment of E-wastes and E-waste recycling

facilities in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.• Translation of MPPI guidelines.• E-waste awareness within Cairo University Campus• Assisting member countries identify consultants and

consulting firms for e-waste management and management planning.

• E-waste awareness through BCRC-Egypt news letter, media interviews and newspaper articles by BCRC-Egypt Staff.

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Ongoing activities

• Assessment of e-waste in the Mediterranean Arab countries in collaboration with Basel Convention Focal points and with contribution from UNEP/MAP.

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

E-waste status in selected countries in Egypt

– the number of mobile phone subscribers increased from 4.3 Millions in 20001 to approximately 24 Millions in 2007, and to 44 Millions in 2009.

– Number of internet subscribers reached 13 Millions in March 2009.

– Growth in the ICT sector in Egypt exceeds 20% during 2007 and 2008 and expected to be 15% for 2009 affected by the global financial crisis.

– Import of used personal computers and CRT monitors increased dramatically since 2001 (number increased approximately 6-8 times in five years).

–

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

– During 2007, the Minister of Trade and Industry has issued a decree prohibiting importing personal computers that are older than 5 years (it was 10 years before)

– Few collection programs for end of life mobile phone batteries initiated by local mobile operators but not publically propagated.

– No records regarding e-waste generation rates available.– A research project and an e-waste forum initiated by Egypt

cleaner production center and regional organization CEDARE, BCRC-Egypt is partner in both initiatives.

– An inter-ministerial committee with members from the private sector and national and regional organizations is formed and is currently discussing a road map for e-waste management in Egypt.

In 2009 Egypt jumped to 500-1060 mobile phones per 1000 people category.

Source World Bank 2002

source: www.etoxics.org

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Sources of information• Reports on number of mobile phone subscribers• Reports on internet subscribers• Sensuous reports• Development indicators reports (World Bank and

ECMIC)• Questionnaires • Interviews (with dump sites

scavengers/operators)• Interviews with scrape dealers • Interviews with smelters operators

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

questionnaires

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Status of end of life computers

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

End of life TV sets

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Status of end of life mobile phones in Egypt

S.D. for E-waste Africa and PACE Physical meeting, May 2009

Needs for Egypt• Awareness for e-wastes and possible impacts; generation rates

and impact scenarios should be the alarming vehicle for awareness.

• Legislative framework for E-waste management that incorporates responsibilities to importers, manufacturers, and owners.

• Need to enhance and collect accurate data on quantities and types of E-waste generated and appear in waste streams.

• Need to enhance participation of the concerned stakeholders in E-waste management.

• Need to develop a proper collection, transportation, recycling, exporting or disposal system.

• Need to build local capacity / experts on E-waste management.• Need to identify recycling technologies for known E-waste stream.

Thanks for your attention