Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
E-Waste Management: A Global Issue
Pankti Thakkar* and Shamsul Chowdhury**
In the modern complex digitalized world environmental pollution is limitless and
typically it has no boundaries. Pollution in the form of E-waste is a growing problem
worldwide and its proper management is a global issue. In this work we intend to
draw attention on the growing e-waste problem worldwide and how best it could be
managed by means of proper recycling/reusing or adapting to other appropriate
technology and methodology. The work will also provide some examples of
countries like Switzerland, India and others as to how effectively, environment
friendly and economically they are managing their e-waste and what the rest of the
world can learn from them to protect the environment from e-waste pollution. Ewaste management is a global issue and the Swiss model for E-waste
management has been found to be very effective and the rest of the world can take
lessons from it.
1. Introduction
E-waste and its Management is a current issue the world is facing while becoming global. The
idea for the research paper came during projects conducted within the courses Information
Resource Management and Global issues in Information Systems in the MBA program at
Roosevelt University, USA.
The course objectives for both the courses were very interesting and informative and were
focused on the current global issues around the world. These courses have provided the
fundamental knowledge on information systems and their uses for information management
for organizational growth. They have also covered and provided knowledge on the
transformation of traditional business enterprises into digital firms. They have explored the
roles of information systems in business enterprises and how they affect businesses in
organizations and processes. They have also examined the roles of information systems and
technology in global setting, the study of diverse cultures, business environments, legal
issues as well as trans-border dataflow.
We conducted a group project on “E-Waste Management” in fall 2012. Since then further indepth research on the topic was conducted to address the topic from a global perspective and
find or suggest possible solutions to the growing E-Waste problem.
As the name implies E-waste Management: A Global Issue, is a very complex term. In
general, E-waste which is also described as E-Scrape, Electric waste, E-disposal, or Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) means electronic waste products that have
reached the end of their useful life and are ready to be discarded. E-waste consists of
computers, televisions, phones, refrigerator, stereo systems, hardware, or any other
*Pankti Thakkar* Roosevelt University, College of Business, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173-4348
Email: pthakkar39@gmail.com
**Shamsul Chowdhury** Roosevelt University, College of Business, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173-4348.
E-mail: Schowdhu@Roosevelt.edu
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
electronic products that is commonly used by the average human. As everyday new
technology being created, this new technology quickly replaces the older one and causes
people to upgrade and get the best new things available. As a result, there is a fastest
growing surplus in electronic waste because of the fast paced changes of technology in
countries all around the world. E-waste is usually only applied to computer or an electronic
equipment. These electronics are made up of many different components, many of which are
considered hazardous to waste management workers and environment in general. Some of
them contain lead, cadmium, and cathode ray tubes, which are considered the hardest to
recycle and the most dangerous. All countries are trying to figure out what to do with such a
serious E-waste management problem because the hazardous material contained inside the
equipment can pollute the landfills and risk plant, wildlife, and human life. It can cause lifethreatening diseases to human being and kill the eco-system. E-waste is very hazardous due
to many toxic substances within electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and
televisions when not properly discarded. Specifically, a computer can contain lead, mercury,
Cadmium and other highly toxic chemicals. Therefore, utmost care must be taken to manage
E-waste properly and systematically.
2. Literature Review and Methodology
This work focuses on E-waste and its management from a global point of view and is based
on extensive researches on materials collected mostly from Internet and other sources. It is
also based on project works, presentations and discussions conducted in courses in the MBA
program at Roosevelt University, USA as well as personal visits to countries like Switzerland
and India.
3. E-Waste Management: A Global Issue
The fast growing surplus in E-waste is creating a huge problem all around the world. Many
developed and developing countries are having trouble finding ways to dispose of the old
electronics that many are getting rid of daily. The hazardous materials and electronics inside
these electronics pollute landfills and risk plant, wildlife, and human life. The breakdown of
these materials over time poses a risk of life threatening diseases in humans and damages
the system. E-waste is a major concern in developed countries and this issue is being passed
onto the developing countries such as China, India, Ghana, and Nigeria. It has been found
that 80% of the E-waste from developed countries is being illegally shipped to developing
countries for recycling. Developing countries are addressing the E-waste issue by putting
forth new initiatives and policies aimed at reducing their environmental impact. Countries are
not just focused on the effects resulting from the end use of the product, but also on its impact
on the environment through the products’ entire life cycle. These policies that countries are
implementing concentrate on principles of the extended producer responsibility (EPR); the
extended producer responsibility also known as the “Polluter Pays Principle”, addresses
sustainable environment programs in environmental laws that are put in place within
international trade.
The environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S estimates that every year Americans
“retire” 130 million cell phones, printers, copiers, key boards, mice, VCR’s, scanner and digital
cameras. EPA also estimates that every year over two million tons of this same sort of scrap
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
are dumped on the landscape. Discarded e-scrap makes up over 70% of heavy metal waste
in U.S landfills. While all this is daunting, consider that over 80% of “recycled” electronics in
the U.S is shipped abroad to less wealthy countries.
It is estimated that the global E-waste generation is growing by 40 million tons per year. Also,
there has been an increase in recovery and recycling operations at an average rate of 18
percent per year. Based on a study conducted by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency
it is 10 times cheaper to export E-waste to Asia than to process it in the US. Therefore, Ewaste movement provides both legal and illegal incentives. Some of the common E-waste
Asian destinations include China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand. In fact, China receives the highest proportion of all E-waste approximately 70
percent. However, due to changes in the regulation in Asia, it is believed that more E-waste
will flow into West African countries. The illegal trade of E-waste is primarily supported by the
multi-million dollar turnover. E-waste contains valuable components; like gold, silver and
others, is easy to source, cheap to ship, and there is a low risk of being caught. The E-waste
export market ranges from small family based networks to large trading firms. In order to
control the issue of E-waste management, international cooperation and law enforcement is
required.
The international trade of E-waste is a major concern, since it causes health and
environmental damage. Legislations have been introduced to control the movements of
hazardous substances. Countries are addressing the EPR through administrative, economic,
and informative policies with six main goals in which they plan to deal with E-waste issue.
These goals are: waste prevention and reduction, product reuse, increased use of recycled
materials, reduced natural resource consumption, internationalization of environmental costs
into product prices, and energy recovery when incineration is considered appropriate. The
international convention that controls the shipping of waste is called the Basel Convention.
This is an international treaty, which was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous
waste between nations; specifically to prevent the transfer of E-waste from developed to less
developed countries. The Basel Convention has 178 Signatories; however the US has not
ratified it. Even though there is an international treaty to reduce E-waste movements, various
countries are tackling this issue on their own terms and conditions. Some of these countries
include South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Switzerland. These countries
are tackling this problem since long once they have realized E-waste is becoming global
issue and putting forth policies in practice in a manner in which country can earn money as
well as save the environment by reusing or redesigning the E-product.
As developing countries have become more technologically advanced, the management and
disposal of E-waste has become a global issue. Globally, steps need to be taken to manage
E-waste. A single model cannot be suitable for every country; therefore each country must
take steps to protect its citizens and environment. The management of E-waste has to be a
coordinated global issue. In order to accomplish global E-waste management goals,
developed countries like the United States needs to set an example of properly disposing of
E-waste. However, according to the Environment Protection Agency, there is no current
federal mandate to recycle E-waste, instead just a patchwork of state mandates. This is a
major problem because the United States is a developed country that produces a lot of E-
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
waste because of the daily new upcoming technological innovations with unique varied
features to fulfill the needs and demands of customers for their satisfaction.
To address the E-waste problem, the EPA decided to implement the sustainable material
management (SMM) Electronic challenge. The goal of this initiative was to make the United
States more in line with progressive countries in Europe. The EPA felt that through this
challenge it could push for a more uniform E-waste recycling program without the federal
government passing a mandate. In a way, this challenge is a side step to a federal mandate
because many companies resist the proper disposal of E-waste due to the considerable
increase in costs of proper disposal versus placing the E-waste into a dump. However,
without a federal mandate all of the programs that the EPA develops are not enforceable.
Companies can decide if and when they would like to follow these programs. The only legal
requirements companies have to follow are the laws in that govern the specific state where
they are disposing of the E-waste.
In order to protect the environment, all companies that dispose of E-waste must do so in a
safe and proper way. However, this is a problem because some countries are progressive
when it comes to the proper way to dispose of E-waste, while other countries turn a blind eye
to the disposal of E-waste. The problem becomes magnified because some countries that
turn a blind eye to proper E-waste disposal also allow the importation of E-waste from other
countries. The United Nations and other organizations have to unite and agree on a set of
guidelines that all of the member countries will follow. Otherwise, some countries will still
allow the illegal dumping of E-waste. This will ultimately destroy the environment and make it
unhealthy for people to live in those countries. They should keep in mind that money is not
the only factor, which will provide them everything. Better health and environment does affect
them to be alive, work and earn money. There also have to be technological developments
that allow companies to produce electronics without using products that are harmful to the
environment.
The trade of E-waste must be prohibited by international organizations. Trading E-waste
creates danger for the public health of under-developed countries because of improper
recycling conditions. Instead, we should come up with different solutions for different regions
of the world. This mostly depends on the education level and electronic growth of the
economy. We cannot apply the same rules to all.
4. The Swiss Model for E-Waste Management
There are some current models that have been introduced for the purpose of regulating Ewaste and of the well-known models is the Switzerland model. Switzerland became one of the
first countries to have a federally regulated E-waste program. Switzerland is a small country
with few mineral resources and a scarcity of land. Given this condition, the Swiss have made
it their way of life to do something about saving the resources they have. The Switzerland
model for E-waste management started in 1990’s as a voluntary system for the recycling of
electric and electronic equipment. The system involves a myriad of stakeholders who hold
different levels of responsibility for the recycling of electric and electronic equipment. The
stakeholders in this recycling system are manufacturers/importers, retailers, consumers,
recyclers, government refiner, and disposer. This makes the recycling of products everyone’s
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
responsibility. In order for the world to better understand the E-waste Switzerland model,
there are various steps that one must take.
The first step is the buying process, when consumer is interested in buying an electric device;
there is an extra fee involved that covers the recycling process. The amount of the fee
depends on the size of the electronic device purchased. The second step is the returning
process. The consumer is allowed to return any old device to any retailer or manufacturing
business free of charge that sells that particular item. For example, one who is selling Apple
products are liable to take back any other companies products like HP, Toshiba, Dell, etc.
The third and forth steps involve the breaking apart of the old electronics. In these steps the
recycler takes any parts that may still be used or takes parts that are toxic. The useless items
are shredded down to scrape metal. The final step is the refine step where all the scrap metal
is refined to raw material that can be sold as metals, plastics, and glasses.
The system has a few hiccups, which E-waste made very clear, but overall, it appears to run
smoothly. Some other regulatory systems have been put into place, but Switzerland appears
to be one of few models with various stakeholders, who are doing their best part. For
example, the European Union has banned certain toxic chemicals from being used in
electronics and requires manufacturer to take back and dispose of used and outdated
equipment. However, the Swiss have a system with clearly defined responsibilities for each
member in the chain from creation to obsolescence.
It seems that the Swiss have fought very hard to make the recycling of electronic and
electrical equipment everybody’s business. They have done a great job on putting system
controls in place, which create responsibility for all stakeholders. Something that should be
made clear is that the government has not done much to control the system. The government
created guidelines, but is not responsible for the regulation of the policies in place. Yet, in
Switzerland 98% of the electronic waste is recycled or incinerated to produce energy in clean
burning factories fitted with scrubbers to prevent air pollution.
4.1 Lessons & Steps for rest of the World
The world can take some ideas from the Swiss model and learn from it. This model has been
in place for over ten years and it seems to be making a difference in E-waste in their country.
This model is used country wide compared to the United States that seems to have different
federal and state laws regarding E-waste management. The model seems very well
organized and simple for the consumers of any age to understand. Consumers are charged
for disposal of the item at the beginning of the purchase, so when it’s time to dispose of the
electronic, there is very minimal thinking involved of what to do with it, just take it back to
where you got it from or any other electronic store that sells that item, at no additional cost.
The fee was charged at the beginning of the purchase covers the labor cost from the disposal
of the item, so employment or recycling funding is covered.
We do not think there is any other better model at this time in place. Developing countries are
just starting to throw electronics out and are starting to get on the wagon of starting their own
E-waste management system.
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
Different companies like: Best Buy, Panasonic, Sony, Apple, and Toshiba in the United States
have started their own E-waste management program. These companies in 2011 have
collected over 460 million pounds of gadgets, from people sending back their old electronics
and getting money back for them or just donating them. These companies hope that with the
incentive of money for sending in old electronics will be significant enough to persuade
people, so their waste is properly taken care off. The problems with these programs are that
not everyone may know about them or may not understand the process how they work. The
difference between these other programs and Switzerland is that Switzerland’s E-waste
program starts as soon as the client makes the purchase. Switzerland’s model is simple, well
organized, and involves the entire country.
Every country must take some kind of promotional steps to manage E-waste by recognizing
and motivating the small- medium-large scale businesses, which are contributing their best
part into the society by managing waste in a very efficient way. Businesses performing their
activities by maintaining quality, environment, Health & safety Management and playing vital
role in the growth of the economy as well as the nation should be remarked as a successful
entrepreneurs and given certification and award for the best business policy, activity and
performances.
Quality Mark Trust which was just conceptualized in the year 2013 by the people from the
field of Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Management in India with the aim to facilitate
people who have and are dedicating their skills and themselves in the noble cause of the
produce quality products/services including waste management.
Every nation should get inspired by the Quality Mark Trust work done in India and follow
same or some sort of policies to recognize and motivate the businesses managing waste
concerning environment and social responsibilities. It is the moral duty of every nation’s
citizen to protect the natural resources and save it to the extent it is possible.
4.2 Experiences from India
The first author was a graduate student in the MBA program at Roosevelt University. After
completing the project on E-Waste Management, she got in touch with her former professor
at the University (Sardar Patel University) in India where she had her undergraduate degree.
She e-mailed the professor about the exciting project work and its presentation and also
discussed with him some more details of the project contents. For example, the learning
experiences from the project.
The professor got quite impressed and invited the first author to present a seminar on the
topic at the University in India. One of the purposes of the seminar was to create awareness
about E-Waste, which is impacting the world and environment negatively.
In the seminar we presented and discussed E-Waste, the problem, guidelines, and solution in
India with live and innovative ideas. Principal and professors attending the seminar
appreciated the ideas presented at the seminar to manage the problem from a local
perspective. They took an innovative step towards revolution and implemented a policy within
and surrounding areas near the University to manage waste and E-waste in particular. Like in
Proceedings of 31st International Business Research Conference
27 - 29 July 2015, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
ISBN: 978-1-922069-80-1
the US and other developed countries, now in India specifically in and around our University
area, one will find garbage can along with a recycle bin can. With this great experience, we
felt good that we have contributed some of our educational learning experience in the real
world to change the world.
5. Conclusion
E-waste management is a global issue. The world definitely needs to take lessons from
Switzerland’s model for recycling and try to use it as best practices in e-waste management.
The Swiss have created and perfected the model, covering all aspect and backing it by law.
The most important factor is covering the disposal costs up front. A customer or business
that has paid for this up front is more likely to dispose of e-waste properly. 98% of electronics
waste in Switzerland is recycled. So far we have not seen a better solution than the Swiss
model, which has been adapted by the entire nation whole-heartedly.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank the professors from India’s University, who have invited the first author
to give a seminar on E-waste management. Their involvement and actions towards changing
society or world by taking initiative to manage waste and E-waste by putting garbage can and
recycle bin cans in and around the University area are highly appreciated. It is indeed a great
approach from the university to encourage students and youth for contributing their moral
duties towards the society and nation by applying learning experience in a practical world. It is
a great revolutionary step.
We would also like to thank Mr. Hetal Thakkar, the President of Quality Mark Trust for his
innovative works, particularly in waste management and his support and encouragement
during the progress of this work.
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