Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
Proper management of used electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), known as E-waste, is causing a significant challenge for many countries worldwide. United Nations estimates that the world generated 53 million metric tonnes (Mt) of e-waste in 2019, mostly from the Asian region. Poor handling of E-waste can cause severe environmental and human health issues due to the toxic compounds in E-waste. E-waste also contains valuable metals worth recovering. Environmentally sound management (ESM) of E-waste is either absent or limited in many Asia Pacific Countries (APCs) due to the informal recycling sector’s dominance. Many APCs are in the process of developing regulations based on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concepts. This project aims to review the current state, issues, and challenges faced by APC and suggest a way forward for the ESM of e-waste.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The project is a key contributor to Regional 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Circular Economy Forum of the United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD). The Project leader (A/Prof Sunil Herat) is an expert member of this forum advising the decision makers in APCs on ESM of E-waste. The project findings contribute to the annual meeting of the forum attended by high-level government officials from several APCs
Outcomes to Date
The project has contributed to UNCRD’s Second State of the 3Rs and Resource Circulation and Circular Economy in Asia and the Pacific, to be published soon. The project significantly contributed significantly to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, published by the United Nations University. In addition, APCs such as Vietnam, Bhutan, Sri Lanka have incorporated the project findings to improve their E-waste management policies.
Project Significance
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in APCs. United Nations estimates that APCs produce nearly 46% of the global E-waste generation. Hence, it is important for APCs not only properly manage but also to take action to reduce the generation of E-waste. Such actions will make a significant contribution to achieving SDGs such as SDGs 3, 8, 11, and 12. Below are some examples of how ESM of E-waste is aligned with some SDG targets:
1) Elimination of hazardous substances during the production of EEE, and during the dismantling and processing of E-waste (SDG Target 3.9)
2) Formalisation of the informal E-waste recycling sector to create decent working conditions and environmentally sound management of E-waste (SDG Target 8.3)
3) Recognition of the informal E-waste sector and integrating into a formal waste management system thereby protecting their labour rights (SDG Target 8.8)
4) Establishment of proper institutional infrastructures for collection, storage, transportation, recovery, treatment and disposal of E-waste in cities to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impacts due to unsound management of E-waste (SDG Target 11.6)
5) Eliminate open dumping and open burning of E-waste and use of poor chemical processes to separate valuable materials in E-waste (SDG Target 12.4)
6) Design EEE with circularity in mind to prevent E-waste generation at the end-of-life and implement EPR systems to achieve recycling of E-waste (SDG Target 12.5)