SCYCLE OPERATING UNIT How to measure e- waste… Key to better policies Dr. Kees Baldé

What is e-waste? 14/05/ Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva EU China US + Can India Rest Asia Latin Am + Car Japan Middle east North Afr. E-waste: Discarded electric and electronic appliances IT, white goods, brown goods, professional, etc Estimate % is IT related

Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva Threat or opportunity? Hazardous substances are released during improper treatment. Valuable raw materials (urban mine) Huge potential for green job creation 3 14/05/2013

Need for harmonization Many countries are interested in the subject. Resource security Environmental reasons Explore the urban mine ($$$) Good if countries compile data incomparable data when own classifications, measuring frameworks are developed Harmonize measurement! Enables cross country comparison / benchmarking / better insight / explanations of best practices /etc better policies Guidelines are prepared: Taskforce on measuring e-waste statistics 4 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

How to measure e-waste? 5 Some contain toxic substances Other relatively harmless Some contain high concentration of valuable resources Others are heavy UNU-55 classification: Links to existing statistical classifications Relevant for policy making (e.g. suitable for old and recast of WEEE-Directive) More information: F. Wang, J. Huisman, C.P. Balde, A. Stevels, A systematic WEEE classification, 1-6, Electronics Goes Green 2012 conference, 2012 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

How to measure e-waste? 6 Sales Stock E-waste Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013 Sales To be published: F. Wang, J. Huisman, C.P. Balde, A. Stevels, 1-6, Journal of Waste Management, 2013

Case study: The Netherlands For 55 products (of which 10 IT related) Data is very is usable by authorities and companies Which products need additional collection Which products are environmental / resource relevant Construct indicators (e.g. IT and telecom equipment) 7 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013 Sales (Kg/inh) Stock (Kg/inh) Total IT waste (kg/inh) Export for reuse (kg/inh) Formal Collection (kg/inh) Informal collection ( kg/inh) Waste bin (kg/inh) 3,0330,52,400,600,610,700,54 Published: J. Huisman et al, The Dutch WEEE-flows, United Nations University, Bonn, 2012

Not an ivory tower academic product… Applied in three countries ITA, BEL, NLD Assessment in China France (now) Discussions: other EU countries, Turkey, USA, CAN, MEX F. Wang et al, E-waste in China, ISSN , 2013 F. Magalini et al, Household WEEE generated in Italy, United Nations University, Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

9 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013 Good information Good data Good funding Good policy making Institutionalize measurement UNU-55 classification Measuring Framework Taskforce on measuring e-waste statistics (Partnership on measuring IT statistics) StEP initiative: Solving the e-waste Problem Various scientific papers Good policies needed to Manage IT-waste Create green jobs Lower environmental burden Explore the urban mine