Tracking the Global Generation and Exports of e-Waste. Do Existing Estimates Add up?

Abstract

14The transport of discarded electronic and electrical appliances (e-waste) to developing regions has 15 received considerable attention, but it is difficult to assess the significance of this issue without a 16 quantitative understanding of the amounts involved. The main objective of this study is to track the 17 global transport of e-wastes by compiling and constraining existing estimates of the amount of e-waste 18 generated domestically in each country MGEN, exported from countries belonging to the Organization for 19Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) MEXP, and imported in countries outside of the OECD 20 MIMP. Reference year is 2005 and all estimates are given with an uncertainty range. Estimates of MGEN 21 obtained by apportioning a global total of ~35,000 kt (range 20,000-50,000 kt) based on a nation's gross 22 domestic product agree well with independent estimates of MGEN for individual countries. Import 23 estimates MIMP to the countries believed to be the major recipients of e-waste exports from the OECD 24 globally (China, India and five West African countries) suggests that ~5,000 kt (3,600 kt -7,300 kt) may 25 have been imported annually to these non-OECD countries alone, which represents ~23% (17% -34%) of 26 the amounts of e-waste generated domestically within the OECD. MEXP for each OECD country is then 27 estimated by applying this fraction of 23% to its MGEN. By allocating each country's MGEN, MIMP, MEXP and 28 MNET = MGEN + MIMP -MEXP, we can map the global generation and flows of e-waste from OECD to non-29 OECD countries. While significant uncertainties remain, we note that estimated import into seven non-30 OECD countries alone are often at the higher end of estimates of exports from OECD countries. 31 32 2

VOCs elimination and health risk reduction in e-waste dismantling workshop using integrated techniques of electrostatic precipitation with advanced oxidation technologies

“…Approximately 20-50 million tons of e-waste are generated each year worldwide, with an annual increase estimated at 4% [1,2]. Given high profit potential, millions of tons of e-waste are dismantled and recycled every year [3]; many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are discharged into atmosphere as a result of these disposal processes [4,5].…”

Material Flow Analysis and Waste Management

“…Some studies have estimated fl ows of specifi c materials contained in e-waste such as steel, aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc (Yamasue et al 2007 ;Lam et al 2013 ;Habuer et al 2014 ) and parts such as lithium-ion batteries (Chang et al, 2009 ). Tracking international trade of second-hand e-products is another research objective of MFA to assess the potential negative impacts on the environment in importing countries Williams 2009 , 2012 ;Yoshida and Terazono 2010 ;Breivik et al 2014 ).…”

“…Therefore, MFA has also been applied to international trade of secondhand products Williams 2009 , 2012 ;Yoshida and Terazono 2010 ;Breivik et al 2014 ). Such trade can be seen as the trade of metals contained in the products.…”

A pathway to circular economy: Developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste

“…Because of the diversity of materials from which most of the WEEE is made of, and the hazardous nature of some of these, their pre-treatment and recycling needs to be carried out in purpose-built facilities. Construction and operation of such facilities in the EU can be associated with high labour costs and stringent health and safety regulations; as such, WEEE is often donated/sold to low-income countries where labour costs are lower for 'reuse', or is (illegally) exported for recycling operations (Breivik et al, 2014). Lack of effective environmental legislation enforcement in these countries means that WEEE may often end up in low-quality landfills with a high probability of this waste being poorly managed (e.g.…”