AL2130 - Disposal

Project Plan
G. Waste Minimisation and Recycling
(Electronic Waste)
Group Members:
Valerie Seh
Sarah Boulieu

1. Aim
To critically analyse how two different countries in the European Union interpret the EU
directive for recycling of electronic waste and steps taken to meet that target.
2. Objectives
To analyse how the two different countries go about collecting, disposing and recycling their
electronic waste. Also, to assess how these countries interpret the principles of waste
minimisation of electronic waste by preparing to meet the targets of the EU directive. Make
recommendations at the EU level to assist countries in reaching the targets for recycling of
electronic waste and ensure environmental sustainability.
3. System Boundaries
There are two main limitation areas that we can look into. Firstly the political, economical
and social areas. In the case of the European Union, all countries within the union are limited
by the free trade principle. In this context, how much freedom do countries have to
implement policies such as bans and taxes to meet the target? Also, in a globalised market, it
is challenging to establish the producer pays principle as the source of production can be
situated in another country with another legislation.
Secondly, the other boundary would be the technological limitations of recycling of
electronic waste. Recycling of electronic waste such as computer waste are challenging in
this century because its a new kind of waste as compared to paper and organic waste.
Furthermore, the quantity of electronic waste have been and still increasing throughout the
past few years which poses a problem for current technologies to keep up with the amounts
and components of the electronic waste.
4. Relevance
In the European Union, the amount of electronic waste in the European Union is projected to
reach more than 12 million tonnes by 2020 from 9 million tonnes of electronic waste that is
generated in 2005. This exponentially growing stream of electronic waste is a cause of
concern as electronic waste contains a complex mixture of hazardous and toxic components.
These components include lead, nickel and cadmium which can be found in batteries for
example.

Electronic waste that are not disposed off properly can release toxic gases and not only
contaminate the environment, but also result in detrimental health problems. For example in
landfills, toxic chemicals from electronic waste can leach into the ground over time and
threaten the health of nearby communities. Also in the case of incineration of electronic
wastes, heavy metals can be released into the air and wastes that contains PVC plastic might
release toxic dioxins and furans. All these are detrimental to human and environmental
health.
The recycling of electronic waste is a strategy to minimise waste as well as prevent toxic and
hazardous chemicals from contaminating the environment. Through recycling, the raw
materials in the electronic waste can be reused and this helps in source reduction and
environmental sustainability. To address the emerging issue of electronic waste in the
European Union, two main legislation directives are put in place. Firstly, the directive on the
restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
(RoHS Directive) in 2003 and secondly, the directive on waste and electronic equipment
(WEEE Directive) in 2003 too. The current aim for the WEEE directive in the EU would be
to recycle at least 85% of electrical and electronics waste equipment by 2016.
The European Union works on the basis of treaties and binding agreements which are
democratically agreed by all member countries. This applies to the WEEE and RoHS
Directive too. However, given that the individual countries have their own governing laws
and legislations, and fact that the EU directives are in the form of targets and goals, it is
highly up to the own interpretation of a particular country to adjust its laws to meet these
goals. This may result in a variation of recycling standards across these countries. As such, it
would be relevant in our course of study to find out the different technologies and legislation
administered by two countries in our case study and determine the more effective strategies
and make recommendations at the EU level to enable all countries to meet the target.

5. Methodology
5.1 Designing comparatives models
We will first collect information and try to answer to the following questions in order to
design a recycling/reduction of electronic waste model for each country that might be
compared.
Legal, political and economical aspects
We will study in more detail the European directive regarding electronic and waste and
analyse its interpretation: Which legal answer has been implemented in the two countries? In
order to do so, we will need to look at the general waste management regime of the country
and research on the following questions:

How is the subsidiarity principle generally organised for waste management?

Who, at the country scale, has the responsibility to collect, recycle and treat electronic
waste? State, region, municipality?

Which strategies have been designed and which policies have been developed in
terms of reduction and recycling (bans, taxes, particular collecting system, disposal,
recycling)?

Which technological solution are been used? At which relative cost? More generally:
how is the system financed?

How is the private sector involved? Is there a secondary market? Is there incentive to
help/develop a re-use market?

Which principles seem to prevail?

Is it a producer or user- pay-system? We will need to define who is the producer in

this case: the company producing or the re-seller?

In terms of consumption of product: which patterns or volume of waste? How is the

population eventually involved in waste reduction? Are there communication
campaigns?

Technological aspects
We will need to do a more detailed research on the current technological solutions available
for waste reduction. We will have to study the following questions in more detail too:

What technologies are used for recycling electronic waste?

Which kind of recycling: closed loop or open loop?

What is the Best Practicable Environmental Option?

5.2 Comparison and discussion

Which results have been reached in terms of reduction and recycling? Have countries higher
targets than the EU directive?
5.3 Conclusion
To determine which is the more efficient model and whether the current electronic waste
management issue would put pressure on the former waste management regime. Also, to find
out the freedom countries have in managing electronic waste. Lastly, to determine the extent
to which the EU directive is adapted to the issue.
6. References
European Commission. (2015). Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Retrieved
from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/index_en.htm
European Union. (n.d). How the EU Works. Retrieved from http://europa.eu/abouteu/index_en.htm
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d). Electronic Waste Management. Retrieved from
http://epa.ohio.gov/ocapp/p2/mercury_pbt/ewaste.aspx#131707718-hazardous-componentsof-e-waste-and-where-they-are-found

SGS SA. (2012). Agreement on WEEE Directive Revision has been achieved. Electrical and
Electronics, No. 014. Retrieved from
http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-01412agreement-on-weee-directive-revision-a4-en-12.pdf
The World bank. (2013). Sustainable e-waste management, key for future protection of
Brazils environment. Retrieved from
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/02/04/e-waste-management-tablets-phonescomputers-Brazil-environment-sustainable-development