5th ITU Green Standards Week
Nassau, 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 Khan
Director
Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean
ahmadkhan786@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
components
The 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, mercuryswitches, 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-lifecomputing 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 EWaste 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.