ITU Training on “Green ICT
Standards”, 11 July 2014
E-waste
management
systems
Anna Lazzarinetti, ITU
E-waste management
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
E-waste definition;
Scope for regulation and standardization;
Principles underlying e-waste policies;
E-waste management system architecture;
Weaknesses;
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.

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Picture: Andrew McConnell/Alamy
3. Principles for e-waste policies
2.
Reverse logistics
“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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“Closed loop design through repair, remanufacturing or recycling”, King et al. (2006)
Principles for e-waste policies
1.
Waste hierarchy
Prevention
Reuse
Recycling
Recover
Final disposal
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Principles for e-waste policies
3.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
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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Models for Extended Producer Responsibility, Lindhqvist (1992)
4. E-waste management
system architecture
1.
2.
Individual and collective producer responsibility;
Producer compliance schemes
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E-waste management system
architecture
3.
Physical management of e-waste: take-back systems
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Definition of typical collection mechanisms for various stakeholders, UNU, StEP (2009)
E-waste management system
architecture
Financing models
4.
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
architecture
5.
6.
7.
8.
International standards for processing
Targets
Reporting and register
Enforcement
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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
5. Weaknesses of e-waste
management systems
E-waste dispersed
Illegal traffic
Speculation on
compliance costs
No clear common
definition
Heterogeneous
reporting requirements
Lack of transparent
management of funding
Lack of internationally
comparable data
Developing countryspecific criticalities 12 of 16
6. Measuring e-waste
Harmonizing 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- 13 of 16
PartnershipMeasuringICTforDevelopment1.pdf
Way Forward
for policy makers

Long-term sustainability ambitions




Improve the sustainability and competitiveness of
manufacturing and business practices




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
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

2.
3.
Supplement on e-waste management
practices (under development)
Raise Awareness and Capacity Building
Development of international standards
and policies
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Thank you
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