This report reflects the results of the exchange programme that took place in the Netherlands and Belgium. As part of the SBC E-waste Africa project, component 4, IMPEL hosted a train-the-trainer event on Ewaste inspection and enforcement. The programme consisted of a combinat...
ViewMany studies show that high levels of many toxic metals and persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals have been found in electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling sites and their surrounding environmental media. Both flame-retardant plastic housing materials and printed circuit b...
ViewThis paper discusses the provisions of the Basel Convention that concern e-wastes, and it further examines the potential impact of the Draft technical guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular regarding the dis...
ViewThe growing volumes of end-of-life (EOL)and near end-of-life ICT equipment around the globe is becoming a matter of concern, particularly as ICT equipment is characterized by high demand and a relatively short life-span. The failure to close the loop on e-waste leads not only ...
ViewThis survey details and assesses the existing conflict minerals supply chain due diligence initiatives (incorporating national and international legislation, as well as industry-, government- and multistakeholder led schemes) that address the management of the broader spectrum...
ViewThis report introduces to environmental crime, a new area of criminality, which is diversified and skyrocketed to become the world’s fourth largest crime sector in a few decades, growing at 2-3 times the pace of the global economy. It also refers to INTERPOL and UNEPs estimate...
ViewInternational Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) of Division of Technology, Industry and Technology (DTIE) of UNEP is assisting member countries on International Solid Waste Management. IETC IETC is also focusing on WEEE/E-waste management as a part of ISWM. As an initial ...
ViewThis is a first manual on WEEE/ E-waste which is prepared as a guidance document to support WEEE/E-waste inventorisation and assessment risks involved. The “Definition” of WEEE/Ewaste varies across the continents and countries. These definitions have been discussed to assist p...
ViewWaste from end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, known as e-waste, is a rapidly growing global problem. E-waste contains valuable materials that have economic value when recycled. Unfortunately, the majority of e-waste is recycled in the unregulated informal sector ...
ViewIn response to the lack of specific data and little awareness from public health on the effect of e-waste on children's health, the WHO department of Public Health and Environment (PHE) developed a specific plan of action. This initiative includes raising awareness of and comm...
ViewThis article provides an overview of the scale and risks associated with the rapidly increasing hazardous waste stream. It reviews international efforts concerned with environmental hazards, especially those affecting children and recommends the need for international cooperat...
ViewThe population exposed to potentially hazardous substances through disposal and recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment is increasing. This paper summarises the evidence for the association between exposure to e-waste and outcomes related to exposures such...
ViewThis paper is a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of the health impact of hazardous waste exposure, applying transparent and a priori defined methods. Fifty-seven papers of epidemiological investigations on the health status of populations living near hazardous waste ...
ViewThis article presents case studies of e-waste recycling scenarios and intervention approaches to reduce or prevent exposures to the hazardous substances in e-waste that may be broadly applicable to diverse situations. Drawing on parallels identified in these cases, this paper ...
ViewThis paper presents four strategic approaches for sustainable regional development: The Natural Step Framework, Zero Emissions, Eco-Industrial Parks, and The Rocky Mountains Institute's Economic Renewal program. Analysis against the requirements of regional planning shows a gr...
ViewEnvironmental technology (ET) has become a catchphrase during the past decades. Nevertheless, an operational definition is not yet plain, allowing manufacturers and engineers to add to their technologies the supplement “environmental” whenever they feel it is appropriate – eve...
ViewThrough the Zero Emissions lens, material cycles from intake to emissions should be managed as a holistic system. Thus, the primary focus is the intake of natural resources within renewable limits and final emissions within acceptable limits. This implies the optimization thro...
ViewThis paper proposes a new value-based indicator to assess the performance of actors in the supply chain in terms of resource efficiency and circular economy. Using standard industry data from Statistics Netherlands, the resource efficiency of several Dutch industries were eval...
ViewThis paper addresses how to enhance e-waste estimates by providing techniques to increase data quality. An advanced, flexible and multivariate Input-Output Analysis (IOA) method is proposed. It links all three pillars in IOA (product sales, stock and lifespan profiles) to cons...
ViewThis paper introduces the 'Best-of-2-Worlds' philosophy (Bo2W), which provides a network and pragmatic solution for e-waste treatment in emerging economies. It seeks technical and logistic integration of 'best' pre-processing in developing countries to manually dismantle e-was...
ViewThis paper proposes a systematic classification of WEEE, enabling improved scope definition and better comparability of performance results. It is organized based on three essential perspectives: product type, waste management, and legislative relevancy. The proposed classific...
ViewThis paper presents data found in the scientific and grey literature about concentrations of lead (Pb), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dioxins and furans as well as polybrominated dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs) monitored in various environmen...
ViewThe number of tools and approaches to develop sustainability is growing rapidly. Sometimes they are presented as if they are contradictory or in competition. However, a systems approach consistent with basic principles and the requirements of sustainability shows that these to...
ViewThis paper presented a methodology to forecast trends in the material composition of waste streams. To demonstrate the applicability and value of the proposed methodology, it is applied to forecast the evolution of plastic housing waste from flat panel display (FPD) TVs, FPD m...
ViewThe Countering WEEE Illegal Trade (CWIT) project provides a set of recommendations to the European Commission to assist various stakeholders in countering the illegal trade of WEEE, also known as ‘e-waste’, within and from Europe. Funded by the Framework Programme (FP7), this ...
ViewIn the hope of supporting the Minamata Convention Parties in implementing its provisions in a more coordinated matter, the “Waste Mercury Perspective” report provides a forecast of the volume of waste mercury in electric and electronic products, and in a set of other non-elect...
ViewThe European Union’s (EU) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was essentially in response to the toxicity of e-waste — to ensure that it was collected and treated in an environmentally sound manner. This paper identifies some key features of the Directiv...
ViewThis research paper examines the labor, human health and environmental dimensions of e-waste management in China, analyzing both the formal and informal sectors. It identified the needs for synergizing policies and measures concerning environmental pollution control and labor ...
ViewThis research work promotes decent work in e-waste management and furthers the international exchange and understanding of the issue. In the study, there is fact-finding evidence on the engagement of cooperatives, social enterprises and other types of organizations in the e-wa...
ViewAs a follow up to the working paper The global impact of e-waste: Addressing the challenge (1), this paper provides further insight on the e-waste sector, focusing on labour challenges and opportunities to leverage working conditions through the promotion of cooperatives and o...
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