E-waste management systems Anna Lazzarinetti, ITU ITU Training on “Green ICT Standards”, 11 July 2014.

E-waste management systems

Anna Lazzarinetti, ITU

ITU Training on “Green ICT Standards”, 11 July 2014

E-waste management

1. E-waste definition;2. Scope for regulation and standardization;3. Principles underlying e-waste policies;4. E-waste management system architecture;5. Weaknesses;6. Way forward.

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1. E-waste definition There is no common definition for e-waste; E-waste legislations differ in scope; “Any device that for functional reasons is dependent on

electric currents or electro-magnetic fields in order to work properly. It becomes e-waste when the holder discards, intends or requires to discard” (Morselli et al., 2009).

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2. Scope for regulation and standardization

Dramatic rise of e-waste generation; Hazardous substances and materials - health

and environmental impacts; Urban mining; Illegal traffic of e-waste vs digital divide.

Picture: Andrew McConnell/Alamy

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3. Principles for e-waste policies2. Reverse logistics

“Closed loop design through repair, remanufacturing or recycling”, King et al. (2006)

“the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin for the purpose of recapturing value or proper disposal” (Rogers, Ribben-Lembke, 1999).

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Principles for e-waste policies1. Waste hierarchy

Prevention

Reuse

Recycling

Recover

Final disposal

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Principles for e-waste policies3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Models for Extended Producer Responsibility, Lindhqvist (1992)

According to OECD (2001), EPR is an “environmental policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of a product’s life cycle”.

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4. E-waste management system architecture 1. Individual and collective producer

responsibility;2. Producer compliance schemes

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E-waste management system architecture 3. Physical management of e-waste: take-back systems

Definition of typical collection mechanisms for various stakeholders, UNU, StEP (2009)

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E-waste management system architecture

4. Financing models

I. What do they cover?

II. Who sets compliance costs?

III. What distinguishes them? METHOD OF CALCULATION; STAKEHOLDERS; LEVERAGE TIME.

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E-waste management system architecture5. International standards for processing6. Targets7. Reporting and register8. Enforcement

Picture: Basel Convention (2014). Tons of illegal waste seized under Operation Demeter III. http://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2014/january/tons-of-illegal-waste-seized-under-operation-demeter-iii.aspx

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5. Weaknesses of e-waste management systems

E-waste dispersed

Illegal traffic

Lack of transparent management of funding

No clear common definition

Heterogeneous reporting requirements

Lack of internationally comparable data

Developing country-specific criticalities

Speculation on compliance costs

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6. Measuring e-wasteHarmonizing statistics

Reporting matrix: 1. Put on Market EEE (kg/inh);2. E-waste generated (kg/inh);3. E-waste Formal collection (kg/inh);4. E-waste recycling with other waste streams (kg/inh);5. E-waste exported for reuse (kg/inh);6. E-waste in waste bin (kg/inh) (PMID, 2014).

Source: Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development (PMID). E-waste statistics. 2014.http://i.unu.edu/media/ias.unu.edu-en/project/2238/E-waste-Guidelines-PartnershipMeasuringICTforDevelopment1.pdf

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Way Forward for policy makers

Long-term sustainability ambitions Consider e-waste management in the design of ICT policies Implement international standards at the national level Encourage concerted cooperation in handling e-waste at the national,

regional and international level

Improve the sustainability and competitiveness of manufacturing and business practices Create manufactured products through economically-sound processes

that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources

Sustainable manufacturing also enhances employee, community, and product safety and promote green jobs

Foster PPP Raise awareness

ITU-T’s activities on e-waste 1. Research & Development

Supplement on e-waste management practices (under development)

2. Raise Awareness and Capacity Building3. Development of international

standards and policies

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Thank [email protected]