1. How to measure e-waste… Key to better policies
Dr. Kees Baldé

2. What is e-waste? E-waste: Discarded electric and electronic appliances
IT, white goods, brown goods, professional, etc
Estimate % is IT related EU
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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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, 2012
Measuring e-waste. Key to better Policies – WSIS Forum 2013 Geneva
14/05/2013

9. 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