Electronic Waste:

Electronic waste (e-waste) was identified as an emerging issue for the second meeting of the International Conference on Chemical Management, May 2009. The growth in consumption of electronic goods has resulted in large volumes of e-waste in developed countries. E-wastes contain many toxic substances.

e-waste:

The growth in consumption of electronic goods has resulted in large volumes of electronic waste (e-waste) in developed countries. E-wastes contain many toxic substances including heavy metals such as lead, nickel, chromium, mercury and organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the brominated flame retardants. There is very low public awareness of the hazardous nature of e-waste. Much of the e-waste generated in developed countries finds its way to developing countries either as scrap or as secondhand computers, which quickly become waste. The export of old computers to 'bridge the digital divide' is often being used as used as an excuse to obscure the fact that this doubles as toxic waste pipelines to some of the poorest communities and countries in the world. According to estimates, between 50% and 80% of e-waste collected for recycling in the developed countries each year is being exported. Much of this trade is illegal under the regulatory provisions in the country of origin.

The lack of adequate infrastructure in developing countries to manage these wastes safely encourage the continuation of the present practice in which these wastes are burnt in open air or dumped into sewers, rivers or in the ground. While only a limited percentage of the worldwide population is covered by any kind of hazardous waste policies and measures, nearly the entire world is affected both in terms of environmental impacts and its health consequences towards its population.

International Conference:

International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) Resolution on Electronic Waste

The original proposal was to work on issues that are not covered under the Basel Convention such as near end of life products which in reality quickly become toxic wastes. The original proposal included convening a working group of stakeholders that address use of toxic substances in electrical and electronic equipment; green product design and procurement; undertaking a study of the fate of toxic substances such as flame retardants; and developing a global information database on toxic substances in electrical and electronic products and waste.

Unfortunately, the proposal was substantially weakened. The Conference decided to invite the IOMC organizations (UNEP and others) plus the secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions to convene a single workshop on this topic in the margins of the Basel OEWG meeting in 2010.

The workshop will include all stakeholders and address the following:

• Identify and assess where issues of chemicals management occur during the lifespan of electrical and electronic equipment
• Include green design, green chemistry, recycling and disposal, and Basel and Stockholm Convention requirements in its deliberations
• Develop a series of options and recommendations for future work through existing mechanisms to the extent possible for consideration at the intersessional meeting and ICCM3.
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  SAICM Regional Recommendations:

  IPEN supports SAICM regional recommendations on hazardous substances within the life cycle of electrical and electronic products.

  
  Asia-Pacific - Recommendations
  
  Central Eastern Europe
  
  Africa - Recommendations Africa (AFR) (53 countries), January 2010, Abidjan, Cote d�Ivoire Will be posted here: http://www.saicm.org/index.php?content=meeting&mid=90&menuid=&def=1
  
  Latin America and the Caribbean - Recommendations Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) (33 countries), March 2010, Kingston Jamaica Will be posted here: http://www.saicm.org/index.php?content=meeting&mid=99&menuid=&def=1
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

    Version: March 2010