rom:
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arisa [arisa.1203@gmail.com]
Tuesday, January 15, 2013 11:14 PM
Tara Cheney
e-waste preambles and key points
Ms. Cheney,
These are the preambles and key points for the topic of e-waste:
MUN: E-Waste
Question of: E-Waste
Co-Submitted by:
Co-Sponsored by:
Preamble
The General Assembly,
Recalling e-waste to be defined as any electrical or electronic equipment
which is waste including all components, subassemblies and consumables,
which are part of the product at the time of discarding,
Taking into consideration the excessive 20 - 50 million tons of e-waste
produced per year,
Noting with deep concern the increased generation of e-waste, having an
annual growth rate of 10 - 20%,
Taking into consideration that up to 36 different chemical elements can be
incorporated
into certain e-waste items, including Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, and different
flame retardants,
Deeply disturbed by the lack of universal standards regarding the proper
disposing and recycling of e-waste,
Recognizing that current methods of e-waste disposal, such as but not
limited to landfills, incineration, pyrolysis, and storage dispose of e-waste
improperly,
Taking note of the fact that chemicals and toxins, such as but not limited
to lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium VI are released by electronic
devices during disassembly, harming both the environment and people of
the area,
Recognizes the harmful effects suffered by the people who disassemble ewaste without the proper protective measures, such as but not limited to
cancer and damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood
systems, kidney, and reproductive systems,
Bearing in mind that improper disposal of e-waste negatively affects the
environment by contaminating soil and drinking water, releasing toxic fumes
into the atmosphere, and accumulating in food chains,
Deploring both the legal and illegal dumping of e-waste on developing
nations, with estimations stating that 50 - 80% of waste collected in the US
is being exported, and 47% of e-waste exports from Europe are illegal,
Recalling the Basel Convention’s strong call for countries to refrain from
exporting hazardous waste across international borders, instead taking
responsibility for it within their own nations,
Noting with regret the failure of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
to implement the goals of the Basel Convention it had hosted, due to it
lacking the authority needed to enforce the decisions,
Concerned by the knowledge that no international forum, including the
United Nations and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has displayed the
capacity to enforce an international environmental agreement before,
Keeping in mind that the resolution has to comply with the relevant
international, national,
provincial and local laws and policies,
Noting with concern the lack of clear standards regarding who is
responsible for the proper e-waste disposal,
Taking into account the expense of the technology necessary to carry out
the safe recycling of e-waste,
Recognizing the predicament presented by Moore’s law, implying that
every 18 months companies release a new product which encourages the
purchase of new products, thus lowering the incentive for companies to
improve upon the situation, and increasing the amount of e-waste,
Noting with regret the driving force consumers play in the production of
e-waste by demanding cheap, new products, which is further encouraged by
companies seeking profits,
Observing a harmful lack of knowledge on the side of electronic
companies regarding measures which could be taken against e-waste, such
as but not limited to the incoming Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) law,
Noting with approval the measures taken through the establishment of
the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which aims
to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced,
and encourage the recycling of the remaining products,
Noting further that there is the opportunity to make e-waste recycling
profitable under the current circumstances, as the e-waste recycling and
reuse services market value totaled close to $6.8 billion in 2010, a 10%
increase from 2009,
Viewing with appreciation the consumer awareness efforts by
organizations such as but not limited to the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA), Electronics TakeBack Coalition, Certified Electronics
Recycler program, and UN Environment Programme (UNEP),
Acknowledging that some companies have taken steps in order to support
e-waste recycling through measures such as but not limited to producing
electronics with interchangeable parts and taking back their electronics once
discarded by the consumer,
Key Points
1. How can the production of products be improved to reduce ewaste?
Congratulates nations where actions are taken towards encouraging
companies to create recyclable and interchangeable part for various
frequently used products including but not limited to computers, TV, mobile
devices, and automobiles, (CANADA) (E-Waste, Key Point 1)
Calls Upon nations to enforce their companies to make interchangeable parts,
therefore making it easier to recycle the e-waste in the long run,
(PARAGUAY) (E-Waste, Key Point 1)
Encourages the companies that sell electronic devices to make products only
made by interchangeable parts so that it’s easy to be recycled, (KENYA) (EWaste, Key Point 1)
Suggests nations to support companies which produce recyclable and
interchangeable parts in their products, reducing taxes by 2 percent,
(CROATIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 1)
Strongly recommends governments to encourage companies selling
electronic products to provide longer lasting batteries which enables better
use of energy to improve the lifetime of the electronic devices, (NEW
ZEALAND) (E-Waste, Key Point 1)
Urges nations to ensure companies reward consumers who keeps their
electronic
products rather than rewarding those who consume updated electronic
products too
frequently in order to give incentive to the consumers to value longfunctioning products, by offering financial incentives, (INDONESIA) (E-Waste,
Key Point 1)
Calls upon the replacement of toxic materials currently used in the
production of electronic devices with safer alternatives such as but not
limited to those specified by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
Directive of the European Union, (CAMBODIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 1)
Taking into account produce new machines from using old generate products,
for example, plastics and gold, (SPAIN)(E-waste, Key Point)
Encourages nations to enact laws which restricts certain products to be
produced under these circumstances,
a) uses mercury, lead, or any high ranked contamination materials for
more than 5% of the product
b) purposely making short life cycle for the company’s higher profit
(LIBYA)(E-Waste, Key Point 1)
2. Who is responsible for proper disposal of e-waste?
(government/companies/consumers)
Emphasizes the importance of national organizations where government
overlooks companies and provide various ways for safe disposal, (CANADA)
(E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Strongly recommends the electronics companies make sure that they bear
expenses to collect, dispose, or recycle the products, (CROATIA)(E-Waste,
Key Point 2)
Supports that nations insist on companies making sure they have a proper
procedure for the disposing of e-waste when these certain products are
being produced, (PARAGUAY) (E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Strongly encourages the companies to deal with the e-wastes that are
exposed to the developing countries when they produce new products by
recycling, (KENYA) (E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Instructs governments to encourage research and development activities
relating to e-waste management, (NEW ZEALAND) (E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Expressing the hope of potential improvement regarding the e-waste
problem if the government
motivates the consumers to think more of the environment by supporting
movements against frequent disposal of electronic goods by education,
media, and
government policy changes, (INDONESIA) (E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Encourages individual nations to negotiate with manufacturers in order to
come to an agreement regarding who is able to take responsibility for which
stages in the products' life cycles, (CAMBODIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 2)
Recognizing companies need to take a charge of E-waste, companies have
responsibilities to separate machines safety and find out the parts that can
be useful, (SPAIN) (E-waste Key Points 2)
Reiterating the necessity of cooperation of the government, companies and
consumers to realize their responsibilities in E-Waste problem, (LIBYA)(EWaste, Key Point 2)
3. How is the dumping of e-waste in foreign countries prevented?
Invites nations disposing of e-waste to increase public awareness in ways
such as but not limited to posters, study sessions, and commercials,
(CANADA) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
Urges nations to develop a procedure to dispose e-waste within their country
and banning e-waste from being exported to developing nations,
(PARAGUAY) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
Urges the nations where e-waste imports are a big problem -for the
government- to pass a strict law, such as imposing fines if the offense is
detected in order to decrease the e-waste import rates, (CROATIA)(E-Waste,
Key Point 3)
Repeats the need for medias, such as commercials and posters, to raise
awareness of the e-waste problem, in order to help prevent the dumping of
e-waste in foreign nations, (KENYA) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
Commends the strong laws and a world-class enforcement organization the
Environment Agency has and reporting the disposal of e-waste, (NEW
ZEALAND) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
Requests nations to begin reward programs where if a nation either supports
countries
suffering most with the e-waste problem or decrease the amount of e-waste
dumping
will be rewarded with economic support or rise in status in the United
Nations, (INDONESIA) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
Instructs countries to keep public records of electronic product transactions,
including their recycling or exporting, as this would discourage the illegal
dumping of e-waste in developing nations, (CAMBODIA)(E-Waste, Key Point
3)
Taking into consideration that some illegal exporting of E-waste may take
place, the UN could take a charge for observation, (SPAIN)( E-waste Key
Point 3)
Demands exporting countries to strongly restrict exports of any kinds of Ewaste to foreign countries to a certain amount by raising tariffs set
specifically on disposals, (LIBYA) (E-Waste, Key Point 3)
4. What are the standards for the disposing and recycling of ewaste? (what has to be recycled, what can be thrown away)
Deplores the importance of a universal treaty, such as the Basel Convention
on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their
Disposal where efforts to take steps making standards for disposal are made,
(CANADA (E-Waste, Key Point 4)
Calls upon companies to enforce a system that if a consumer uses a product
less than three years, the consumer can buy the next product, increasing
the cost by 5 percent, (CROATIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 4)
Strongly encourages disposing waste products that are hazardous to people
and the environment by sending them to a hazardous waste recycling
companies, where this e-waste will be properly stored in areas according to
their material such as but not limited to flammable liquids, corrosives,
oxidizers, liquids, and waste oils, (PARAGUAY) (E-Waste, Key Point 4)
Encourages the nations to encourage the recycling system of the e-waste so
that most of the e-wastes don't need to be thrown away, (KENYA) (E-Waste,
Key Point 4)
Strongly encourages companies to acquire certification to use the logo of eStewards to show they abide by the set of rules for responsibly handling
electronic waste, (NEW ZEALAND) (E-Waste, Key Point 4)
Emphasizes that companies should recycle harmless and environmentfriendly products
as much as possible, (INDONESIA) (E-Waste, Key Point 4)
Recommends the passing of legislature in each nation enforcing the recycling
of e-waste following standards such as those set by e-Stewards, including:
a) strict control of the export of hazardous e-waste
b) safe on-site handling of hazardous e-waste and other problematic
components
c) full accountability for the entire recycling chain; (CAMBODIA)(EWaste, Key Point 4)
Declares Japanese company “Mitsubishi” invented new technologies of using
99% of plastic from old or broken machines, (SPAIN)(E-waste Key Point 4)
Keeping in mind that most part of E-waste will be dismantled by human
hands, anything that consists of harmful materials must be considered as
recycling goods, (LIBYA)(E-Waste, Key Point 4)
5. What are the standards for safety regarding health and the
environment during the disposing/recycling of e-waste?
Encourages Nations to create and/or increase the number of recycling plants
to decrease the amount of e-waste products being exported, (CANADA) (EWaste, Key Point 5)
Calls upon nations to help develop and support the UNEP in the forms of but
not limited to labor forces and funds, (CANADA) (E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Recognizes the amount of toxins and chemicals going into the bodies of the
laborers causing infections such as but not limited to cardiovasculardisease,
and to prevent such diseases the nations should increase the number of ewaste recycling plants in their respective countries,
(PARAGUAY) (E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Supports nations to enforce their recycling plants that provide proper masks
and goggles, and riskless equipments to laborers in order to protect the
laborers from toxins and accident, (CROATIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Supports nations to increase the number of recycling plants, such as proper
wears and protective gears to not let the people inhale the poisonous toxins
and chemicals, (KENYA) (E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Urges governments to pressure manufacturers to eliminate the use of toxic
chemicals from their products within XXX years by providing financial aid,
natural resources, or land as an incentive(NEW ZEALAND) (E-Waste, Key
Point 5)
Strongly supports the invention of electronic products without having to
include toxins
as soon as possible, (INDONESIA) (E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Emphasizes the importance of regular safety inspections by qualified officials
when it comes to recycling plants, due to the toxic chemicals being dealt
with, (CAMBODIA)(E-Waste, Key Point 5)
Recognizes reducing all the medicines such as toxics and lead is difficult but
decreasing frequency in use can be success, (SPAIN) (E-waste Key Point 5)
Contemplating the fact that E-Wastes are dismantled mostly by human,
increase of automated recycling plant is necessary (LIBYA)(E-Waste, Key
Point 5)
Arisa Mizuno