5th ITU Green Standards WeekNassau, The Bahamas 14-18 December 2015

Standards, Guidelines and Best Practices Applicable to the Environmentally Sound Management of Waste from the ICT Sector

Ahmad A KhanDirector

Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbeanahmadkhan786@msn.com

Introduction

• E-Waste from the ICT Sector is divided into five specific categories– Communication Equipment– Transmission and Receiving Equipment– Hand held devices– Computers– Other Electronic and Electrical Equipment

Introduction

Most of the E-Waste generated by the ICT Sector can be recycled either via refurbishment and reuse or the recover of components that can be broken down to make new componentsThe Sector generates 6 MT of E-Waste per annum of which 75% can be recovered for reuse or recycling.

Introduction

There is no standard global definition for e-waste.

WEEE has been listed as a hazardous waste source under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Definition

• Under the Convention, e-waste has been described as ‘waste electrical and electronic assemblies or scrap containing components such as accumulators and other batteries, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass and PCB-capacitors, or contaminated with Annex I constituents (e.g. cadmium, mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl) to an extent that they possess any of the characteristics contained in Annex III (e.g. explosive, flammable solids, poisonous, toxic)’

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - MPPI

• Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI)– Developed under the Basel Convention these

guidelines provide a series of instructions for the Environmentally Sound Management of mobile handsets.

– Developed by the Open Ended Working Group of the BC in association with the major players in the mobiles handset market and research institutions.

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - MPPI

• The overall objective of MPPI was to promote the objectives of the Basel Convention in the area of the environmentally sound management of end-of-life mobile phones. In particular, it should: – Achieve better product stewardship. – Influence consumer behaviour towards more environmentally

friendly actions. – Promote the best reuse, refurbishing, material recovery, recycling

and disposal options. – Mobilize political and institutional support for environmentally sound

management.

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - MPPI

• Under the MPPI five technical guidelines were developed:

– Awareness raising - design considerations, collection of used and end-of-life mobile phones,

– Transboundary movement of collected mobile phones, – Refurbishment of used mobile phones, and – Material recovery/recycling of end-of-life mobile phones.

• All these guidelines have been tested in a facility type environment and were revised accordingly.

• Further Information on the MPPI Guidelines can be found at http://www.basel.int/Implementation/TechnicalAssistance/Partnerships/MPPI/Overview/tabid/3268/Default.aspx

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - PACE

• Programme of Action of Computing Equipment (PACE)– Also developed under the Basel Convention– View is to develop a series of standards and guidelines for the

ESM of used and end-of-life computer equipment, specifically desktops and laptops

– Like the MPPI, the PACE Guidelines are being developed by a tripartite Working Group made up of members of the BC OEWG, the major players in the Computer industry and research institutions, but also includes stakeholder interest groups like BAN.

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - PACE

– Thus far six guidelines have been developed and adopted by the BC making them standard operating practices for countries

– One additional guideline was adopted provisionally this year at BC COP12 which countries may comply with on a voluntary basis.

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - PACE

– Guideline on environmentally sound testing, refurbishment and repair of used computing equipment;

– Guideline on environmentally sound material recovery and recycling of end-of-life computing equipment;

– Glossary of terms; – Report with ESM criteria recommendations; – Guidance on procedures for transboundary movement of used and

end-of-life computing equipment; – Report on strategies, actions and incentives to promote

environmentally sound management of end-of-life-computing equipment

Standards and Guidelines Applicable to E-Waste Management - PACE

• The guideline on environmentally sound testing, refurbishment and recycling of used computing equipment; and the guideline on environmentally sound material recovery and recycling of end-of-life computing equipment were field tested to take into account practical experiences of 16 private companies that agreed to evaluate these two guidelines and to provide recommendations for revisions.

• Further Information on PACE can be found at http://www.basel.int/Implementation/TechnicalAssistance/Partnerships/PACE/Overview/tabid/3243/Default.aspx

Best Practices for the ESM of E-Waste

• Certification Programmes are applicable to E-Waste recyclers and are based on Industry Developed Best Practices– E-Steward Programme under BAN– R2 Programme under “Responsible Recyclers” trade and

industry group.– United Nations University StEP Initiative– BSI Standards– ITU Standards and Best Practices.

Closing Remarks

• The many guidelines, standards and industry best practices that exist for the ESM of E-Waste are only effective if implemented

• Implementation is most effective when done through public/private/civil society partnerships

• The guidelines and standards developed under the MPPI and PACE are legally binding on Parties to the BC and thus can be incorporated into local legislation to strengthen E-Waste management.