How to measure e-waste… Key to better policies Dr. Kees Baldé balde@unu.edu c.balde@cbs.nl

What is e-waste? E-waste: Discarded electric and electronic appliances IT, white goods, brown goods, professional, etc Estimate 10-20 % is IT related EU 27 + 2 China US + Can India Rest Asia Latin Am + Car Japan Middle east North Afr. End with…is it a problem? Or is it an oppertunirt Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

Threat or opportunity? Hazardous substances are released during improper treatment. Valuable raw materials (urban mine) Huge potential for green job creation Due to decreasing life spans, minituarisation in design, recycling becomes even harder. In the current reality  hazardous substances are released when treated improperly Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 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 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

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

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) Sales (Kg/inh) Stock Total IT waste (kg/inh) Export for reuse Formal Collection Informal collection(kg/inh) Waste bin 3,03 30,5 2,40 0,60 0,61 0,70 0,54 Published: J. Huisman et al, The Dutch WEEE-flows, United Nations University, Bonn, 2012 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

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 2219-6579, 2013 F. Magalini et al, Household WEEE generated in Italy, United Nations University, 2012 Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013

Good policy making Good information Good data 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 Good funding Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva 14/05/2013