Status & Outlook of this Initiative in Development

Ruediger Kuehr

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Initiative Background

• Edited Volume “Computers & Environment”• Concerns about

Increasing volumes of WEEE Increasing damages to environment and health through

inappropriate recycling of WEEE• Workshops

EGG 2004+ in Berlin (Sept. 2004) UNCTAD in Geneva (Feb. 2005) UNU in Bonn (Jun. 2005) UNU in Tokyo (Sept. 2005)

• Surveys & additional work conducted pre- and post these events Including conference calls of the whole consortium & the

different task forces

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Aims of this Initiative

1. Multi-Stakeholder Initiative devoted to improving the reverse supply-chain for EEE

2. Its primary activities are:1. Assessment of economic, technological and environmental

characteristics of different models for processing obsolete electronics 2. The development of organisational models describing how different

actors could in practice work together to realise necessary standards, regulations and/or investment;

3. The development of feasible, just and environmentally safe solutions for the e-waste problem through analysis, planning and pilot-projects

4. Capacity building aimed at informing emerging dialogues, negotiations, policies and programs

5. Via collaborations developed above, facilitate practical action to implement solutions

3. Form a neutral arena to enhance and synthesize various efforts

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Problems

• Recognition of the importance of optimizing the life cycle of electric and electronic equipment (EEE), e.g., by improving supply chains, optimizing life spans, closing material loops and reducing contamination;

• Concern about environmental and health issues related to current recycling practices of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE);

• Awareness of the global social and employment opportunities which processing WEEE presents;

• Concern about growing global disparities due to unequal access to EEE (e.g. in the case of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) resulting in a 'digital divide');

• Awareness of the importance that public perception has towards a sustainable solution of the WEEE problem; and

• Recognition the importance of local, regional and global partnerships between companies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and academic institutions in addressing the e-waste problem.

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Common Framework - A

A. Objectives for enhancing the reverse supply chain:

1. Mitigation of environmental harm from e-waste processing in the industrialising world

2. Increased utilisation of resources and increasing reuse of equipment when appropriate

3. Improving economic and social development, particularly in the industrialising world.

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Common Framework - B

B. Primary means for reform:

1. Increasing capacity for reuse/recycling in the industrialising world;

2. Increasing capacity for reuse/recycling in the industrialised and post-industrialised world;

3. Designing-in ease and safety of reuse/recycling

4. Trade controls

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Common Framework - C

• Participants agree that not enough is yet known to decide what combinations and implementations of the above four means will best meet the objectives.

• It is also agreed that collaborative research & concrete activities between different stakeholders are needed

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Organizational Stucture - A

1. Five Task Forces devoted to research, analysis and facilitation of pilot-projects;

2. Secretariat/Overall Coordination functions as communication between Steering Committee and Task Forces

3. Steering Committee oversees the progress of initiative

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Planned Activities

• Become forum for running projects to interrelate, disseminate, work towards policy

• Started selected research projects to fill knowledge gaps

• Knowledge dissemination and capacity building

• Building dialogues towards implementation and policy

• Leverage collective influence to help gather funding for e-waste activities

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Organisational Structure - B

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Task Force 1: “Policy“ - A

• Interim Coordinators:

UNEP = United Nations Environment Programme UNU = United Nations University

• Overall Aims: To report and analyze the status of existing approaches

and particular policies for electronic waste and used electronic products. Based on this, we explore recommendations for future developments to solve the e-waste problem.

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Task Force 1: “Policy“ - B

Analysis of national legislation and the international framework for controlling, enforcement of trade and enhancing recycling of e-waste and used electronic products

Evaluation of present approaches of industrializing regions such as Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia (including China and India)

Setting up dialogues with key players in the field of e-waste Pointing out existing business models and develop new ones

to support the sustainable use of information and communication technologies

Examining alternatives to existing practice that are more suitable to the situation in the industrializing world

Recommendation of new types of policy measures

Objectives, topics & tasks:

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Task Force 2: “Redesign“ - A

• Interim Coordinators:

FHG/IZM = German Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration

EEI = Thai Electrical and Electronic Institute

• Overall Aims: This task force is dedicated to product design aspects. It

contributes to the StEP aim – solving the e-waste problem – by fostering the re-design of electric and electronic equipment in order to reduce negative impacts of their entire life cycle. The status in industrializing countries is taken into particular account.

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Task Force 2: “Redesign“ - B

Objectives, topics & tasks:• Supporting the design for better reuse, repair, refurbishment

and recycling• Analysis and development of possible design changes from

perspectives of removing toxics and substances that become toxic in backyard recycling

(e. g. PVC in wire-cabling) enhancing reuse, such as labelling systems on parts enhancing the recyclability of materials in end-of-life electronics

• Collecting and comparing present approaches of industry • Studying on end-of-life implications with regard to product

design issues• Study of current technology trends affecting backyard

recycling processes• Development of a guideline for recommended design changes

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Task Force 3: “Reuse“ - A

• Interim Coordinator: STIC = Int. Sustainable Trade and Innovation Centre

• Overall Aims:

This task force has its focus on the development of a replicable and sustainable reuse system in order to minimize environmental impacts – especially in industrializing countries.

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Task Force 3: “Reuse“ – B

Objectives, topics & tasks:• Analysis of the status and prospects for

The market of used machines through surveys Components and software alternatives for longevity and

reusability through surveys of electronic manufacturers• Developing practical information and labelling systems to

enhance professional reuse and recycling• Investigation and development of models

On quality certification for refurbished products (standards) To transform the informal reuse market participant into official

contract parties • Transferring knowledge on environmental standards and

technology • Implementation of local recycling systems

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Task Force 4: “Recycle“ - A

• Interim Coordinator:

TUD = Technical University of Delft UNU = United Nations University

• Overall Aims:

To enhance recycling infrastructures for minimum leaves of environmental impacts and to realise sustainable e-waste-recycling systems especially in industrializing countries.

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Task Force 4: “Recycle“ - B

Objectives, topics & tasks:

• Assessment of the most relevant environmental , economic and social characteristics of e-waste recycling in the industrialized world, considering the main steps in the recycling chain: collection - dismantling - pre-processing - end processing of metal- and non-metal fractions

• Provision of information of environmental initiatives in East-Europe, Asia and Africa with regard to ewaste and its specific value chain.

• Description of best available and emerging technologies for WEEE treatment in both developing and industrialized countries.

• Enhancement of communications and transfer of ewaste treatment technologies to facilitate growth in both capacity and environmental/ social quality of electronics recycling infrastructure.

• Support legislative and policy development bodies with roadmaps and strategies to reduce environmental and social problems.

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Task Force 5: “Knowledge“

• Interim Coordinators: EMPA = Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials

Testing and Research

SECO = Swiss State Secretariat of Economics

• Overall Aims: Documentation of the activities and results achieved by the

the task forces and make this knowledge accessible.

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Task Force 5: “Knowledge“

Objectives, topics & tasks:• Maintenance of three instruments to manage knowledge and

build capacities the StEP websites, the StEP conferences, StEP publications

• Knowledge created in various task force projects is made accessible through these instruments

• Organization of public events to generate awareness • Publishing regularly in the mass media • Development of training courses on environmentally sound

management of e-waste

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Task-Force Participation Status – May 2005

Task Force 1 Task Force 2

Task Force 3 Task Force 4 Task Force 5

“Policy” “Redesign” “Reuse” “Recycle” “Knowledge”

InterimCoordinators*

UNEP/DTIEUNU

FHG/IZMEEI

STIC TUDUNU

EMPASECO

Members* (APPLE), CLEAN, DELL, ECO,EEI, EMPAFHG/IZM, GTZ, HPINFORM, STICUMICOREUNCTADWILLI

HPINFORMRIFERUNU

EMPATUVUNCTADUNUWILLI

DELLECOEEIFHG/IZMHPSTICTAIZHOUTUVUMICOREUNCTADWILLI

PROMOTIONUNEP/DTIEUNU

Observers* TUD EMPAUNEP/DTIE

HP, TAIZHOU, TUD, UNEP/DTIE

GTZ UNCTAD

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Outlook

Build Initiative network in America & Asia; Liaising with other e-waste related initiatives on

local, regional and global scales; Development of specific research and pilot

projects (e.g. Market study) Selection of running projects for inclusion Financing of StEP-Consortium as such and

concrete projects (with starting seed funds). Further Initiative & Project Development

workshops in especially America, Asia & Europa

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Contact

StEP – SecretariatUnited Nations University

Zero Emissions Forum, European Focal Point

Ruediger Kuehr

Goerrestr. 15

53113 Bonn/Germany

Tel.: +49-228-42285516

Fax: +49-721-151234313

kuehr@online.de