The most proactive entity on an international basis when it comes to the regulation of hazardous electronic waste is the European Union (EU). It released a directive in 2003 beginning a broad regulation on the treatment/disposal of these wastes called the directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This directive was then altered in order to make it more effective in 2008. Part of this legislation was to enforce alternatives to heavy metals and flame retardants commonly used in the manufacturing of consumer electronics. They leveraged the use of the CE label on products sold in the EU to mark companies who are compliant with these material restrictions. Their new target collection is 65% of the average weight placed on the market in the prior two years.
Unfortunately, these attempts by the EU at enforcing the proper treatment/disposal of hazardous wastes have not been overly effective. In fact, only a third of WEEE was reported to have been treated according to the guidelines laid out in the legislation. Of the remainder of WEEE, 13% ended up in landfills, and 54% received sub-standard treatment inside or outside of the EU. It is an unpleasant truth that the vast majority of this latter category is composed of e-waste being illegally shipped to developing nations.
Although their policies are not achieving what they might, the EU is still miles ahead of the United States when it comes to willingness to regulate what happens to these wastes at all. In fact, the US currently has no federal policy covering the treatment/disposal of e-waste. The Government Accountability Office has found that a substantial amount of electronics are being discarded inappropriately. Most of these, as is the case with those slipping past the net in Europe, are shipped to developing nations. Here they are disassembled or burned in order to harvest parts from them. The first is unsafe, and the second has adverse effects on the environment. In 1989, 51 countries signed the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. This agreement required signatories to notify developing countries of incoming shipments of hazardous waste. Unfortunately (and this is a mark of the US' dedication to responsible e-waste disposal), the US was the only industrialized country not to sign.
Looking at this we realize that something must change. A large factor in our Federal government's decision to sit idly by is the large costs of regulatory efforts currently being inflicted on the EU. However, taking care of our environment is well worth the cause. As a result, to those who feel the same, please take an active role and let your public representatives know: something must be done.
Unfortunately, these attempts by the EU at enforcing the proper treatment/disposal of hazardous wastes have not been overly effective. In fact, only a third of WEEE was reported to have been treated according to the guidelines laid out in the legislation. Of the remainder of WEEE, 13% ended up in landfills, and 54% received sub-standard treatment inside or outside of the EU. It is an unpleasant truth that the vast majority of this latter category is composed of e-waste being illegally shipped to developing nations.
Although their policies are not achieving what they might, the EU is still miles ahead of the United States when it comes to willingness to regulate what happens to these wastes at all. In fact, the US currently has no federal policy covering the treatment/disposal of e-waste. The Government Accountability Office has found that a substantial amount of electronics are being discarded inappropriately. Most of these, as is the case with those slipping past the net in Europe, are shipped to developing nations. Here they are disassembled or burned in order to harvest parts from them. The first is unsafe, and the second has adverse effects on the environment. In 1989, 51 countries signed the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. This agreement required signatories to notify developing countries of incoming shipments of hazardous waste. Unfortunately (and this is a mark of the US' dedication to responsible e-waste disposal), the US was the only industrialized country not to sign.
Looking at this we realize that something must change. A large factor in our Federal government's decision to sit idly by is the large costs of regulatory efforts currently being inflicted on the EU. However, taking care of our environment is well worth the cause. As a result, to those who feel the same, please take an active role and let your public representatives know: something must be done.
