A N N U A L R E P O R T 2008...Best E-Waste Policies Take-Back Systems and Design Guidelines “Resource Scarcity” – International Policy Responses Transboundary Movements of Waste

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Preface

Introduction

Vision & Key Objectives

Principles

Membership

Organization

StEP’s History

Task Force 1: Policy and Legislation

Best E-Waste Policies

Take-Back Systems and Design Guidelines

“Resource Scarcity” – International Policy Responses

Transboundary Movements of Waste

Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Climate Change

Task Force 2: ReDesign

Design for Re-use and Recycling – Case Studies

Closing the Loop – Electronics Design to Enhance Re-use/Recycling Value

Zero Waste Strategies for Electronics

Asian Electrical and Electronics Green Society Conference

Task Force 3: ReUse

Towards Common Definitions in Re-use

Business Principles for Re-use

Framework Conditions for Re-use

Forum for Re-use Research

Task Force 4: ReCycle

The Best of Two Worlds

E-waste Management in Africa

StEP Recycling Guidance

The Environmental Fate and Effects of Hazardous Substances

Recycling – from E-waste to Resources

Task Force 5: Capacity Building

Summer School on E-waste Management

E-waste Management in Latin America and the Caribbean

E-learning Course on E-waste Management

Study on E-waste Management in the Arab Region

The StEP Website

StEP Events

Members

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the second Regional Focal Pointafter the Massachusetts Institutefor Technology (MIT) became theRegional Focal Point for NorthernAmerica in 2007. Discussions areunderway to establish more Regio-nal Focal Points worldwide in orderto satisfactorily reflect the regionalexperiences, interests and needs inour global initiative.

W i t h i n 2 0 0 8 S t E P w a scontracted externally to carry outtwo specific research projects –one supported by UNEP entitled“Recycling – from E-waste toResources” and the other onesupported by the Swiss StateSecretariat of Economics (SECO)and the Swiss Federal Laboratoriesfor Materials Testing and Research(EMPA) on evidence of the need foran appropriate international policyresponse towards the supply anddemand of geochemically scarceelements. StEP’s high level oftechnologica l and sc ient i f icexpertise offers an invaluableresource on a global platform,which we hope will be called uponby other organizations in thefuture.

As you will see from this report,StEP has become a recognizedhub for expertise in meeting thecha l l enges caused by theproduction, usage and disposal ofe l e c t r i c a l a n d e l e c t r o n i cequipment. Hence, it is with greatpleasure that we release the firstannual review of the work of theStEP initiative.

Stockholm/Bonn, April 2009

Ruediger Kuehr –Executive Secretary, StEP Initiative

Per Doefnaes –Chair Steering Committee,StEP Initiative

The year 2008 was a particularlygood one for StEP, which hasstarted harvesting results since itsformal launch in March 2007.

A high point was signing theMemorandum of Understandingwith the Secretariat of the BaselConvention in September 2008.Th i s ag reement se ts thef o u n d a t i o n s f o r e f f e c t i v ecollaboration between StEP andthe Basel Convention in research,capacity development, outreachand policy issues.

Also in 2008 the United NationsI n d u s t r i a l D e v e l o p m e n tOrganization (UNIDO) formallyjoined StEP. It became the fourthUN organization to participate inthis initiative, after the UnitedNations University (UNU), theUni ted Nat ions Env i ronmentProgramme (UNEP) and the UnitedNations Conference on Trade andDevelopment (UNCTAD).

In May 2008 StEP organized itsannual General Assembly, kindlyhosted by Ericsson in Stockholm,Sweden. During this meeting weident i f ied a growing need topublicly announce findings of ourwork, to increase participation ofrepresentatives from developingand transition countries and NGOsin StEP, and to secure funding ofour initiative. And we agreed onapproaches to meet these ongoingchallenges; for example, encoura-ging Associated Membership,which will offer enhanced capacityto undertake project work.

During the General Assembly,StEP also assigned the Center forEnvironment and Development forthe Arab Region and Europe(CEDARE) as the StEP RegionalFocal Point for the Middle East andNorthern Africa. CEDARE became


The “Solving the E-waste Problem(StEP) Initiative” was established tostart up and foster partnershipsbetween companies, governmentaland non-governmental organi-zations and academic institutionson meeting the challenges thatresult from the production, usageand disposal of electrical andelectronic equipment. As a public-pr ivate par tnersh ip in i t ia t ivefounded by various UN organizati-ons, StEP is uniquely positioned tocontribute to the formulation ofbasic principles, policies andstrategies, and the development oftechnologies and projects foraction.

Since 2004, when the idea todevelop StEP was first discussedby a handful of scientists andexperts, and its formal launch inMarch 2007, the Initiative hasgrown and matured into a de-centralized network that nowcomprises 50 members fromaround the world. Stakeholdershave recognized the need to colla-borate internationally in the currentg lobal context where socia l ,political and economic challenges –whether occurring at home or inother regions – impact as neverbefore. All StEP members are

committed to join forces in projectwork and align their strategies tofive core principles (detailed over-leaf) in order to establish solutionsto the E-waste Problem that areevidence-based, holistic andpractical.

StEP continues to evolve. Thisannual report is neither exhaustivenor indicative of the overall breadthor depth of StEP’s work andprojects. Rather, it presents selec-ted highlights of the initiative’s workand achievements. Five priorityareas are identified, reflected inStEP’s five Task Forces: Policy,ReDesign, ReUse, ReCycle andCapacity Building.

This report also describes thenetworking activities (strategicpartnerships and linkages) throughwhich StEP complements andleverages its work, and disclosesthe human and financial resourcesthat support StEP. Further informa-tion about StEP including detailedinformation about projects can befound on StEP’s website (http://www. step-initiative.org) and in thepublicly accessible parts of StEP’sfile depository (http://files.step-initiative.org).

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What is e-waste?E-waste is a term used to cover almost all types of electrical andelectronic equipment that has entered or could enter the wastestream. It is also known as WEEE (an acronym standing for wasteelectrical and electronic equipment). Examples of e-waste includeTVs, computers, mobile phones, white goods (fridges, washingmachines, dryers etc.), home entertainment and stereo systems,some toys, toasters, kettles – in other words almost any householdor business item with circuitry or electrical components with poweror battery supply.

HP has joinedStEP to help countries workthrough the manylegal, scientificand practical

issues involved in managing e-waste, treatment standards,and innovative design to maximize re-use and recycling.

Klaus Hieronymi, Environmental BusinessManager, Hewlett-PackardEurope, Middle East andAfrica

Ericssonrecognizes StEP’svaluable contribution toaddressingclimate change

and sustainability issues withinthe industry and strongly supports their initiatives onrecycling, re-use and policydevelopment.

Elaine Weidman Grunewald,Vice President, Sustainabilityand Corporate Responsibility,Ericsson


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Vision & Key Objectives

We strongly support the StEPInitiative as a way to foster co-operation amongstakeholders,

develop needed infrastructure at a global scale, and optimize interfaces between manual,mechanical and metallurgicalrecovery processes.

Hugo Morel, Executive VicePresident of Umicore PreciousMetals Services

PrinciplesStEP’s core principles:1. StEP’s work is founded on scientific assessments and

incorporates a comprehensive view of the social, environmentaland economic aspects of e-waste.

2. StEP conducts research on the entire life-cycle of electronic andelectrical equipment and their corresponding global supply,process and material flows.

3. StEP’s research and pilot-projects are meant to contribute to thesolution of e-waste problems.

4. StEP condemns all illegal activities related to e-waste includingillegal shipments and reuse/ recycling practices that are harmfulto the environment and human health.

5. StEP seeks to foster safe and eco/energy-efficient re-use andrecycling practices around the globe in a socially responsiblemanner.

To achieve the aforementionedvis ion, StEP undertakes thefollowing activities:

(I) It functions as a network ofactors who share experiences andbest practices.

This network offers a neutral,unbiased and independent arenafor discussion and informationexchange.

(II) It carries out research anddevelopment projects.

These projects help to supportthe objectives of the five StEP TaskForces through the optimization ofthe life-cycle of electric andelectronic equipment by:

• Improving supply chains;• Closing material loops;• Reducing contamination;• Fostering safe and eco/energy-

efficient re-use and recyclingpractices around the globe in asocially responsible manner;

• Exercising concern about dispa-rities such as the digital dividebetween industrializing and indu-strialized countries; and

• Increasing public, scientific andbusiness knowledge about e-waste challenges and solutions.

(III) It disseminates experiences,best practices and recommendati-ons.

StEP aims to be a key knowledgehub for holistic approaches thathelp to solve the aforementionedproblems. It seeks to involveexperts from various disciplines(natural sciences, social sciencesand engineering etc.), bringingtogether stakeholder groups andencouraging the exchange ofexpertise, data and ideas.

“StEP envisions a future inwhich societies have reducedto a susta inable level thee-waste-related burden on theecosystem that results fromthe design, production, use anddisposal of e lectr ica l andelectronic equipment. Thesesocieties make prudent use oflifetime extension strategies inwhich products and com-ponents – and the resourcescontained in them – becomeraw materials for new pro-ducts.”


StEP is generally open to allorganizat ions who commit toproact i ve and const ruc t i veparticipation in addressing theobjectives of StEP by signingS t E P ’s M e m o r a n d u m o fUnderstanding (MoU) . Onlyassociations are not entitled to afull membership. More informationon eligibility is available via theStEP Secretariat.

StEP members are expected tocontribute monetarily and in kind tothe existence and development ofthe initiative. Though initiated byvarious UN organizations, StEPgets no funds from the regularbudget of the United Nations. TheInitiative is funded entirely byannual contributions and entrancefees from its members plus thesuccessful acquisition of projectgrants. New commercial membersare charged EUR 10,000 as singleentrance fee for becoming a StEPmember. For non-commercial

organizations, the fee is either EUR2,000 or 1,000, depending on theirsize. Such entrances fees thenwaive the annual contribution forthe first year of membership.

T h e a n n u a l m e m b e r s h i pcontributions for 2008 are:

- Large-size companies: EUR 10,000 each

- Medium-size companies: EUR 5,000 each

- Small-size companies:EUR 1,000 each (including micro-enterprises)

- All other full members:EUR 1,000 each

- Associate members:EUR 500 each

As indicated above, StEP alsooffers the option of AssociateMembership, thus encouraging theparticipation of small companies,research and educational institutes,associations and NGOs, including


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Membership

those f rom developing andtransition countries, which eithercannot afford full membership, areonly interested in working onspecific projects or are not entitledto become a full StEP member (e.g.associations). Associate Memberscan contribute to the objectives ofStEP on a project basis, but are notallowed to vote in the GeneralAssembly.

In exceptional cases the SteeringCommittee might decide on acase-to-case basis to waive thef inanc ia l cont r ibut ions andentrance fee for non-commercial,individual, governmental and inter-governmental members. In thesecases, the member must clearlycommit to offer certain in kindcontributions that support theoverall development of StEP.

The following stakeholder mapdisplays StEP’s membership asof December 2008:


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Organization

entire life cycle of electronic pro-ducts.

Task Force 3: ReUse, coordinatedby Christoph Herrmann & TobiasLuger, Technische UniversitätBraunschweig, Lutz-GuentherScheidt, Austrian Society forSystems Engineering and Auto-mation (until March 2009) and JohnDickenson (AER Worldwide).

TF 3 ReUse focuses on profes-sional re-use, refurbishement andrecycling and the establishment ofinternational requirements for re-use and transboundary movementsof re-usable equipment.

Task Force 4: ReCycle, co-ordinated by Jaco Huisman, UnitedNations University/TU Delft andMathias Schluep, Swiss FederalLaboratories for Materials Testingand Research (EMPA).

The overall aim of TF 4 ReCycleis to enhance global recycling infra-structures and technologies torealize a sustainable e-wasterecycling.

Task Force 5: Capacity Building.The coordinators of this Task Forcehave yet to be confirmed.

TF 5 Capacity Building aims atincreasing public, scientific andbusiness awareness on the globale-waste problem and the dis-semination of knowledge genera-ted in the TFs.

In principle, each Task Force iscoordinated by two StEP members,who contribute to advancing theoverall aim of the StEP Initiativethrough project development,networking and fundraising. Thecoordinators play a key role inmaintaining positive momentum,ensuring a holistic view and ex-ploiting synergies.

Stakeholders involved in StEP will benefitthrough globally standardized,safe and

environmentally-proven processes for disposal, reduction or re-use and recycling of e-scrap.

Konrad Osterwalder, UN Under-Secretary-Generaland UNU Rector

The StEP Initiative has five principalorgans: the General Assembly, theTa s k F o r c e s , t h e S t e e r i n gCommittee, the Secretariat and theRegional Focal Points.

(I) General Assembly

The General Assembly is the mainbody of StEP. The Genera lAssembly meets at least once ayear to accept new members, electthe members of the Steer ingCommit tee, approve annualbudgets and financial accounts,approve the Steering Committee’sproposals for StEP policies, and setup main committees and issuegroups. Each full member has onevote in the General Assembly.

(II) Task Forces

Al l StEP members act ive lyparticipate in at least one of the fiveStEP Task Forces. The Task Forcesare devoted to research, analysisand implementation of pilot-pro-jects in line with StEP’s objectives:

Task Force 1: Policy and Legisla-tion, coordinated by CédricGossart, TELECOM & ManagementSudParis, and Ruediger Kuehr,United Nations University.

TF 1 Policy and Legislationanalyses the status of existinglegislative and policy approacheson electronic waste and, based onthis, elaborates policy recommen-dations for future developments.

Task Force 2: ReDesign, co-ordinated by Charuek Hengras-mee, Electrical and ElectronicsInstitute and Karsten Schischke,Fraunhofer Insitute for Reliabilityand Microintegration (IZM).

TF 2 ReDesign is dedicated toproduct design aspects in order toreduce negative impacts of the


(III) Steering Committee

The Steering Committee monitorsthe progress of the StEP Initiative.Steering Committee members areelected for two years, after whichthey can be re-elected to serveanother term. The Committee has apermanent, voluntary Chair, theappo in tment be ing ro ta tedamongst elected members at leastevery 1 July and 1 January.

The Steering Committee, electedon 13 May 2008, is composed of:

• Jean Cox-Kearns, Dell (Chair to31 December 2008)

• Per Doefnaes, Ericsson (Chairsince 01 January 2009)

• Christian Hagelueken, UmicorePrecious Metals Refining

• Charuek Hengrasmee, ThaiE lect r ica l and E lect ron icsInstitute

• Guido Sonnemann, UnitedNations Environment Programme

• Rolf Widmer, Swiss FederalLaboratories of Material Testingand Research

Ex officio

• Ruediger Kuehr, Execut iveSecretary StEP Initiative, UnitedNations University

(IV) Secretariat

The Secretariat is responsible forthe execut ive management ,a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d d a i l yoperational work of the Initiativeand assists StEP Projects in therespective Task Forces. Amongother assignments the Secretariatmanages the information flowwithin the network, but also servesas a communication hub for anyinformation of relevance for StEP.The Secretariat is lead by theExecutive Secretary who is thechief academic pro ject andadministrative officer and who hasoverall responsibility for efficientmanagement of the Initiative and its


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MIT’s MSL is participating inStEP because we believe it isan effectivemechanism for

collaborating on importantresearch topics with a broadrange of stakeholders. StEP isstructured in a manner to ensure that its research hasimpact.

Joel P. Clark, Professor ofMaterials Science and Engineering and EngineeringSystem, Founder and Directorof the Materials SystemsLaboratory, MassachusettsInstitute of Technology

strategic development alongcertain directions which wereagreed-upon by the members andSteering Committee.

The StEP Secretariat is hosted bythe United Nations University(UNU).

(V) Regional Focal Points

The primary purpose of the StEPFocal Points is to act as a linkbetween the StEP Secretariat andthe members, activities and issuesin their respective regions. Theyprov ide in fo rmat ion to theSecretariat and StEP members onactivities, issues, and membersrelevant to StEP in the region. Inaddition the StEP Regional FocalPoints act as the primary point ofcontact for StEP members on StEPactivities and events.

StEP Regional Focal Point forNorthern America: Jeremy Gregory& Randy Ki rchain, Mater ia lsScience and Engineering Systemsat Massachussetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT)

StEP Regional Focal Point for theMiddle East and Northern Africa:Hossam Allam, Center for Environ-ment and Development for theArab Region and Europe (CEDARE)


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Researchers at UNU have beenexamin ing the in te r re la t ionbetween electronic devices,especially computers, and theenvironment for several years.Such research led to a bookproject, which was published underthe title “Computers and theEnvironment: Understanding andManaging their Impacts” in late2003. While working on the book,many more questions concerningthis subject matter were identified.So the topic was expanded fromcomputers to the whole field of

StEP’s History

StEP Organizational Chart

electrical and electronic equipment– and eventually grew into thedevelopment of an internationalinitiative: Solving the E-wasteProblem (StEP). Important initiatorsof the StEP project were KlausHieronymi, Hewlett Packard,Ruediger Kuehr and Eric Williams,both at UNU, and Axel Schneiderfrom promotion team wetzlar.

StEP General Assembly

Steer ing Committee

Secretar iat (UNU)

Task Force Pol icy & Legis lat ion

Task Force Capaci ty Bui ld ing

Task ForceReDesign

ProjectWork

Task ForceReUse

Task ForceReCycle

At Nokia, we arecontinuouslylooking forinnovative andsustainable waysto improve and

expand our recycling program-mes. We joined StEP for theopportunity to share informati-on and develop best practiceswith others that have the samevision.

Markus Terho, Director,Environmental Affairs, Nokia


Task Force 1:Policy and Legislation

In recent years the management ofend-of-life electronics has emergedon the wor ld ’s agenda o fenvironmental and developmentissues to tack le . S ign i f icantincreases in the generation ofwaste electrical and electronicequipment (WEEE) have led manyconcerned countries to legislateand implement policies that dealw i th the reasons and theconsequences of this develop-ment. Even though policymakersworldwide are increasingly respon-ding to rapidly growing e-wastestreams, this response has takenshape by single-state action andproposals, leading to a patchworkof different policies in place orunder development.

In contrast most newly industria-lizing and developing countries donot have legislation specificallydealing with e-waste, even thoughthey receive increasing quantitiesof end-of-life equipment via im-ports. In addition to waste im-ports, the vulnerability of the re-cipient countries is aggravated bytheir own waste generation.Populous countries like China andIndia tend to have the fastestgrowing markets for electrical andelectronic equipment and arealready huge producers of e-wastethemselves.

StEP’s Policy and LegislationTask Force aims to report andanalyse the status of existing policyapproaches relevant to the pro-duction, usage and disposal ofelectrical and electronic equip-ment. Based on this research, it willsupport future developments in thefield of e-waste policies and legis-lation from a holistic point of view.

Key objectives of this Task Forceinclude improving harmonization ofworldwide policy approaches,compliance and enforcement.

Task Force members have priori-tized their work in 2008 to look intooptimizing e-waste policies, e-waste take-back and collectionsystems, policy responses to metalscarcity and institutional coopera-tion in the field of transboundarymovements of waste.

Best E-Waste Policies

Recognizing the urgent need todevelop recommendations for“Best E-waste Policies”, StEP’sPolicy and Legislation Task Forcehas star ted a pro ject to com-parat ive ly eva luate d i f ferentnational policies and legislation one-waste and from this to come upw i th recommenda t ions fo roptimizing e-waste policies.

The development of “Best E-waste Policies” is seen as a long-term objective. There are numerousfundamental knowledge gaps thatinhibit proper planning of alternativesystems. New standards, regula-tions, incentives and approaches toenforcement need to be developedand implemented. E-waste is a poli-tically contentious issue, with com-plicated interfaces of the interestsand perceptions of industrializingand industrialized countries,governments, manufacturers, re-cyclers and NGOs. There is thus aneed for analysis and dialogue froma neutral standpoint in order topave paths towards consensualsolutions to the e-waste problemwhich manage environmental riskand enhance development. In a firststep, a Task Force sub-group iscomparatively analysing how stake-holders are managing e-waste.

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StEP Task Forces Explore Sustainable Solutions to the E-waste Problem…

Flection Inter-national joinedStEP since this isthe platform &knowledge-basefor best

practices, ideas and futuredevelopments concerning ICTrecycling and re-use.

Joep van Loon, Managing Director,Flection International b.v.


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“Resource Scarcity“ – International Policy Responses

Global demand for natura l lyoccurring scarce elements is risingto meet the needs of an increasingpopulat ion and widespreadeconomic development. Many ofthese needs relate to the economicwell-being of society as a wholeand are highly interconnected,such as in f rast ructure, foodproduction and distribution, health,education and effective govern-ment. Without an adequate under-standing of the way in whichscarce elements are extracted andproduced, and in what quantities,we may be jeopardizing theeconomic well-being of futuregenerations in terms of their accessto resources. Whilst technologicaladvances and material substitutioncan account for some mitigation ofthis problem, the medium- to long-term supply of geochemicallyscarce e lements, which is anecessary prerequisite for a wide-spread market diffusion ofemerging technologies such asthin-film photovoltaics, cannot besecured without appropriatepolicies on an international scale.

With this in mind, StEP has revie-wed existing policies and foundthat the international policy frame-work is inadequate to secure themedium- to long-term supply ofthese geochemica l ly scarceelements. In its research study“Resource Scarcity – Evidence ofthe need for an appropriate inter-national policy response towardsthe supply and demand of geo-chemically scarce elements” UNU,EMPA and ETH Zurich evaluate theproblem and offer recommen-dations on a strategic response.Publication as a StEP White Paperis foreseen for 2009.

E-waste issuesnow become global and requi-re cooperationand support fromall key stake-

holders. I have the confidencethat the StEP Initiative canserve as the neutral focal pointto exchange experience andexpertise to provide the appropriate solutions.

Charuek Hengrasmee, President, Thai Electrical andElectronics Institute

Take-Back Systems and Design Guidelines

While it is laudable that policy-makers across the world addresse-waste issues, they often lack anin-depth knowledge and thepractical experience required tocreate efficient systems to collectand process e-waste, also knownas “take-back systems” for end-of-l i fe e lect ron ics. The currentsystems in-place are nascent andmany were developed concurrentlywithout the benefit of learning fromexisting systems. This leavespolicymakers and system architectsin the unenviable position ofcreating systems that are essen-tially experimental in nature – theymust use policy instruments thatare new and have not been well-tested. A tangential result is thatthere is a patchwork of differentimplementations of e-waste take-back systems in many states andregions. There is a need for a con-solidated source of information onWEEE take-back system designthat summarizes design alter-natives and highlights theirstrengths and weaknesses.

StEP has addressed this issue ina White Paper on Take BackSystems and Policy Approaches.The primary objective of this paperis to provide guidance to policy-makers and system architects onthe policy tools, configuration alter-natives, financing schemes andmanagement alternatives that maybe used to operate such systems.It provides a description of thegeneric structure of a take-backsystem, followed by details on thealternatives available to fulfil eachcomponent of the system andstrengths and weaknesses of vario-us alternatives. Key considerationsin system design and examples ofcurrent system models are in-cluded at the conclusion of thedocument. The White Paper can bedownloaded at http://www.step-initiative.org/publications/


Transboundary Movements of Waste

When electrical and electronicequipment has reached it final end-of-life in (post-) industrializednations, some of the equipment isexpor ted to t rans i t ion anddeveloping countries either for re-use or illegal dumping. In recipientcountries the recycling andseparation of electronic waste isnow a main source of income for agrowing number of people.However, in most cases this isdone with poor health and safetystandards in p lace, exposingworkers to extens ive heal thdangers as well as leading tosubstantial environmental pollution.Moreover, recycling in this contextusually focuses on a few valuableelements like gold and copper (withoften poor recycling yields), whilemost other metals are discardedand inevitably lost.

In order to regulate, monitor andcontrol transboundary movementsof waste, the Basel Convention onthe Control of Transboundary

Movements of Hazardous Wastesand their Disposal was adopted in1998. The Secretariat to the BaselConvention, which facilitates theConvention’s activities on theenvironmentally sound manage-ment of electronic and electricalwaste, and the StEP Initiatives i g n e d a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) in September2008. This agreement lays down aframework to enhance use ofexisting expertise and cooperate inthe development of research,capac i t y deve lopment andoutreach activities, as well as inmaking recommendations forpolicy development.

Moreover StEP contributed tothe IMPEL TFS (European UnionNetwork for the Implementationand Enforcement of EnvironmentalLaw Cluster Transfrontier Ship-ments of Waste), E-waste work-shop 20 & 21 Nov. 2008 in Faro,Portugal in order to establish acloser cooperation.


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Why is e-waste growing?

E-waste is growing exponentially simply because the market for electronic products is alsogrowing rapidly as many parts of the world cross the so called „digital divide“. For example,between 2000 and 2005, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)notes a 22 per cent growth in Information Communication Technology (ICT) in China. China wasthe 6th largest ICT market in 2006, after the US, Japan, Germany, UK and France. This isastounding when one considers that just ten years ago, according to UN data, less than 1 percent of China’s population owned a computer.

Computers are only one part of the e-waste stream. In 2005 fridges and other cooling andfreezing appliances, combined with large household appliances, accounted for 44 per cent oftotal e-waste in the EU, according to UNU’s Study supporting the 2008 Review of the WasteElectrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The production of household fridges inChina is rising rapidly, at over 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2007.

Rapid product innovations and upgrades, especially in ICT and office equipment, combinedwith the migration from analogue to digital technologies and to flat-screen TVs and monitors, arefuelling the increase. Economies of scale have given way to lower prices for many electricalgoods, which has increased global demand for many products that eventually end up as e-waste.

Challenges related to EEE product andmaterial flowsrequire more andmore a global

and multi-disciplinary collaboration. The PLMresearch group at TUBraunschweig joins StEP totackle these challenges withglobal partners in joint researchprojects.

Christoph Herrmann, Head ofthe research group Product-and Life-Cycle Management,Technische Universität Braun-schweig


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The issuesaround electronics re-useare sensitive andcomplex. AERWorldwide joined

StEP in order to work cross-sector in a global team to promote environmentally, socially and economicallysound electronics re-usemodels.

John Dickenson, Vice-President BusinessDevelopment, AER Worldwide

Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Climate Change

During the last couple of years, theclimate change debate has taken adramatic turn. The release of theIntergovernmental Panel onClimate Change (IPCC) FourthAssessment Report and the SternReview on “The Economics ofClimate Change”, the movie “AnInconvenient Truth”, and the NobelPeace Prize awarded to the IPCCand Al Gore have galvanized publicopin ion and created a newmomentum to address what manyworld leaders describe as the mostserious challenge ever faced bymankind.

In 2007 the United NationsUniversity, and in particular aconsortium under the StEPumbrella, outlined the positivecontribution that electronics re-cycling can make in the preventionof greenhouse gas emissions. Eachkg of electronic waste collectedand treated according to differentend-of-life scenarios has a differentpotential. The current collectionrate of e-waste in Europe isannually, roughly speaking, 2.2 Mtout of 10.3 Mt potentially arising. IfMember States were to collect andtreat 5 .3 Mt – the est imatedcollection rate achievable – thiswould reduce emissions by nearly38 Mt of CO2 equivalent per year.

Due to much higher metal gradescompared to mining ore con-

centrates, state-of-the art recyclingrequires significantly less energyand thus generates much less CO2

than min ing. StEP memberUmicore calculated that the totalmetal output from treatment of300,000 t of mainly secondarymaterials at their Hoboken refineryin 2007 caused only one-fifth of theCO2 emissions that would havebeen generated if these metalswould solely have come frommining operations. For typical e-scrap feed like circuit boards andcell phones, the CO2 saving factorwill even be significantly highersince the contained plastic fractionin the feed substitute energy forsmelting etc. StEP memberUmicore calculates an annual CO2

emission of 23.4 Mt almost 1/1000of the world’s CO2 production, forthe metals needed to produceelectrical and electronic equip-ment. There are other metalscontained in e-scrap (like steel, Al,Ni, Pb, etc.) which also generateCO2 in their primary production, butthey are not included in the figureof 23.4.

Hence, StEP has started tofurther analyse the potentials ofreduc ing g reenhouse gasemiss ions th rough e-wasterecycling, to develop sustainablebusiness models and to establishtruly closed cycles in theenvisioned “recycling society”.


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StEP is for DelftUniversity an inspiring forum toexchange ideasand knowledge.Even more

important, it is a platform foraction. StEP is the perfect wayto put engineering into a societal perspective!

Ab Stevels, Professor, Design for Sustainability Lab,Delft University of Technology

Task Force 2: ReDesign

Environmental design and life-cycleassessment are two concepts thatsupport low materials intensity, lowtoxicity and high recyclability. Theuse of these concepts in theproduct ion of e lect r ica l andelectronic equipment continues togrow significantly. StEP’s ReDesignTask Force is dedicated to productdesign. It contributes to the StEPaim – Solving the E-waste Problem– by fostering design approacheswhich ensure that environmentalimpacts, including pollution andwaste, are considered and mini-mized at all stages of a product'slife, not just at the disposal stage.

E-waste legislation typically aimsto improve product design withrespect to re-usability and re-cycling. Furthermore, materialbans, such as the European RoHS,are largely motivated by concernsregarding a potential release oftoxic substances at the end-of-lifeof equipment. However, currentlegislation lacks appropriateeconomic incentives for manufac-turers to benefit from developingmore sustainable designs. The firstecodesign legislation worldwide,the European Directive 2005/32/ECon the Eco-design of Energy-usingProducts (EuP Directive), intends totackle “design for recycling“ (DfR).There i s a c lea r need fo ra p p r o p r i a t e , e f f e c t i v e a n devidence-based DfR criteria, whichcan be implemented in a legislativepolicy framework.

In addition, product technologiesare relevant to e-waste on variouslevels. Add-on technologies, suchas radio-frequency identification(RFID), are implemented inproducts to support e-wastemanagement and logistics.Although such technologies havebeen investigated extensively overrecent years, they have yet to beimplemented in the market forvarious reasons. Other technology

trends in the electronics sector, e.g.electronics in textiles, also result inforeseeable challenges for e-wastemanagement. Furthermore, therapid uptake of some newtechnologies, such as flat paneldisplays, has seen the recyclingindustry struggling to keep pace.

Design for Re-use and Recycling– Case Studies

The work of the ReDesign TaskForce is driven by the view thatrisks to public health and theenvironment from e-waste can bereduced by product redesign.Redesign optimizes the lifetime(use) of a product by implementingmeasures that improve repair,refurbishment, re-use, and re-cycling of the product or itscomponents.

A compilation of DfR exampleshas been provided by the ReDesignTask Force as a DfR Case StudiesLibrary. In addition to giving anoverview on current approaches,the library currently offers 13 casestudies in the field of design forrecycling. An update with additio-nal examples might be a task forcoming years.


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nics refurbishers and recyclers thatare caused by the design ofconsumer electronic products?

2. How could the design of theseproducts be changed to enhancethe EOL value proposition?

3. What kind of information frommanufacturers, and in what form,would expedite the most efficientmanagement of electronics atEOL?

The final draft has been reviewedby StEP members and ideas forfuture research were included in thefinal version.

Zero Waste Strategies for Electronics

“Production without waste andharmful emissions – hardly any ideai s m o r e c o n v i n c i n g a n dchal lenging.” That was theintroduction to a radio story byGerman Bayerischer Rundfunk in1997 about enterprises withoutchimneys. Initial reactions calledthis a crazy idea or simply im-possible. Nevertheless, this idea ofZero Emissions could become anew industrial standard and a newmodel for a sustainable society.

Under the umbrella of a largerZero Emissions research project, anumber of StEP’s ReDesign TaskForce members have startedlooking at the Zero EmissionsConcept from a design perspec-tive. Project activities include thedevelopment of science-basedbest practice design guidelines forrecycling of flat panel displayproducts, such as LCD monitors,laptops and LCD and plasma TVs,the development of a detailedproduct concept for a DfR Laptopincluding a feasibility study and thedevelopment of a prototype, andthe elaboration of a Report onInnovative Technologies to facilitateIndividual Producer Responsibilityand product re-use.

SECO initiatedthe Swiss pro-gram for globalpartnerships in e-waste recyclingin the wake of

first alarming news about dan-gerous e-waste recycling. StEPas a global platform for efficientknowledge exchange is supporting this country basedprogramme.

Hans-Peter Egler, Head ofUnit, Trade Promotion, SwissState Secretariat forEconomic Affairs (SECO)

Dell recognizesthat the solutionfor E-Waste problems are bigger than justone company

and has joined StEP to participate in a globally represented multi stakeholdergroup working on differentaspects of the e-waste challenge.

Jean Cox-Kearns, Senior DellEMEA Take Back Manager,Asset Recovery & ProducerResponsibility Programmes

Closing the Loop – Electronics Design to EnhanceReuse/Recycling Value

End-of-life (EOL) management hastraditionally been an externality forthose who design and sellelectronic products. Whilstmaking products that are moreeasily assembled is in the interestof manufacturers – and as such theproducts are likely to be morereadily disassembled – designdecisions solely to enhance theend-of-life value proposition havenot been a h igh pr ior i ty formanufacturers. Producer res-ponsibility – where manufacturerstake financial responsibility for therecycling of their products – couldpotentially internalize this designissue. However, this can be ex-pensive, potentially requiring brandsorting. An environmental standardto which manufacturers pay seriousattention could provide an effectiveincentive to improve design forend-of-life. And that is the intentand strength of the ElectronicProduct Environmental Assess-ment Tool (EPEAT), a system tohelp purchasers in the public andprivate sectors evaluate, compareand select desktop computers,notebooks and monitors based ontheir environmental attributes.

The Closing the Product Design –End-of-Life Loop project (“Closingthe Loop”) intends to generaterecommendations to promote

design for EOL, includingE P E AT. I t i s b e i n gconduc ted by S tEPmember Wayne Rifer as amember of the GreenElectronics Council (GEC)and the National Centerfor Electronics Recycling(NCER) . Th is pro jectexplores the followingquestions:

1. What are the grea-tes t cha l l enges andobstacles facing electro-


Asian Electrical and ElectronicsGreen Society Conference

To facilitate the dialogue on e-waste related issues between Asiaand the EU, StEP member EEI iscurrently preparing an internationalconference on 07 – 09 October2009 in Bangkok, Thai land.Product design, life cycle assess-ment, corporate social responsibili-ty, and global sustainability at bothpublic and private levels are amongthe priority topics discussed.

The conference will provide afo rum to sha re ideas andexperiences in this field whereleading experts present theirresearch activities and discuss new

concepts and technologies forsustainable electronics.

The international conference willaddress the following themes:• Information dissemination to

the public and public relationtowards the development of anElectrical and Electronic GreenSociety

• Exchange of knowledge andexperiences in research at bothlocal and international levels

• Building up cooperations andsupport in academics, research,and sk i l l s f rom va r iousorganizat ions, publ ic ly andprivately, within Thailand andfrom overseas

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Griffith Universityrecognizes thatwhile dealing withe-waste as alocal and regionalissue, it is a

global problem that needs aglobal solution and StEP is byfar the most effective globalinitiative developed to solve thee-waste problem.

Sunil Herath, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Engineering,Griffith School of Engineering,Griffith University

Why is e-waste different from general municipal waste?

Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Up to 60 elements fromthe periodic table can be found in complex electronics. To use the home computer as an example –a normal cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitor contains many substances that are valuable butalso many that are toxic. One of these toxic substances is cadmium, which is used in rechargeablecomputer batteries and contacts and switches in older CRT monitors. Cadmium can bio-accumulatein the environment and is extremely toxic to humans, in particular affecting the kidneys and bones. Itis also one of the six toxic substances that have been banned in the European Restriction onHazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.

In addition to CRT monitors, plastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are used for printed circuitboards, connectors, covers and cables. When burnt or land-filled, PVCs release dioxins that affecthuman reproductive and immune systems. Mercury, which is used in lighting devices within the flatpanel displays, can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys and brain, and can be passed onthrough breast milk. Electrical goods contain a range of other toxic substances such as lead,beryllium, brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to name a few. Leadplays an important role in the overall metal production processes. Hence, attempts to design-out leadfrom electrical and electronic equipment do not necessarily mean that it is no longer used. Even thelead-free solder elements are co-produced with lead. This illustrates the importance of taking aholistic view when analysing the e-waste situation and working out possible solutions.

One must also consider the huge impact of using valuable metals in the manufacture of electronicproducts. A mobile phone, for example, can contain over 40 elements including base metals (such ascopper and tin), special metals (such as cobalt, indium and antimony) and precious metals (such assilver, gold and palladium). Most of the metal content is copper (9 g), while the precious metalcontent is in the order of milligrams only: 250 mg silver, 24 mg gold and 9 mg palladium. Whilst theselevels may appear low, with the leverage of 1.2 billion mobile phones sold globally in 2007 this leadsto a significant metal demand. Similar calculations can be made for computers or other complexelectronics. 80 per cent of the world indium demand is used for LCD glass; over 80 per cent ofruthenium is for hard disks and 50 per cent of the antimony is used for flame retardants.


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Task Force 3: ReUse

Our world is dominated by rapidtechnological change. As newtechnology is introduced to variousmarkets, older technology isdisplaced, resulting in a stream ofequipment in a l l s tages ofoperation. The re-use of electricaland electronic equipment helps toreduce waste. There are many re-use strategies to prevent a productor component from entering thewaste stream. One can sell theproduct to another user, donate theproduct to another user, restore theproduct if it is damaged prior tomoving it to another user, orharvest components from it.Furthermore, for products that arematerial-intense in their production,re-use can enhance resourceefficiency, reduce the usage ofvirgin materials and thus reducedeleterious effects from extractionof materials from the earth.

According to UNU calculationsfrom 2001, the total fossil fuelsused to make one desktopcomputer weigh over 240 kilo-grams, 10 times the weight of the

computer itself. Also, substantialquantities of chemicals (22 kg), andwater (1,500 kg) are used incomputer manufacturing. So re-use diverts materials from disposal,provides social benefits in terms ofjob creation, conserves naturalresources and reduces pollution.

To secure the benefits from re-use of electrical and electronicequipment one must overcomevarious difficulties linked with thefollowing issues:

• An absence of establishedmarkets for re-used electronicproducts;

• A lack of efficient collectionsystems that guarantee constantsupply of re-usable equipment;

• Long- te rm s to rage byconsumers due to lacking aware-ness or a negative consumerperception of used products;

• Barriers such as legal liability,warranty issues and dataprotection;

• Product design not allowing easydisassembly or an absence ofaccepted quality standards forrecove red p roduc ts andcomponents.

Aware of these challenges,StEP’s ReUse Task Force aims todefine globally consistent re-usepractices and standards in order tochange consumer behaviour (to getacceptance for re-use and earlyproduct take-back), to extend theusage of electrical and electronicproducts and components, and toreduce the flow of irresponsiblere-use between donor anddevelopment countries.

A problem asbroad, complexand important ase-waste cannotbe tackled in isolation. The

University of Limerick becameinvolved with StEP because thismulti-stakeholder approachoffers the best opportunity tofind sustainable solutions.

Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick


Towards Common Definitions in Re-use

The term re-use (and its associatedterminology) has several definitionsin international legislations, normsand re-use practice, all embracingdifferent contexts and not followinga global standard for communica-tion. The StEP Initiative dicoveredearly on that mixed definitions ofkey terms can become barriers forsolutions and create confusionamong academia, government,industry and, of course, con-sumers, thus hindering an efficientre-use market.

In its White Paper “One GlobalUnderstanding of Re-Use –Common Definitions” the ReUseTask Force lays down a commonunderstanding of key terms relatedto re-use, their definitions and con-cepts. It does not discuss existingdefinitions in depth, but createsone “dictionary” of key definitionsin order to establish a globalstandard for communication. TheWhite Paper can be downloaded athttp://www.step-init iative.org/publications/.

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How much e-waste is there?

Because so much of the planet’s e-waste is unaccounted for, it is difficult to know exactly how much e-waste there is. Moreover the types of e-waste included in government-initiated analyses and collectionprogrammes is different across the world: the EU has 10 distinct product categories, whereas in NorthAmerica it is typically limited to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and TVs, andin Japan to four product categories including TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines.Nevertheless reasonable estimates are in the order of 40 million tons per annum, which is enough to fill aline of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) stretching half way around the globe.

A recent review of European legislation on e-waste, known as the “Waste Electrical ElectronicEquipment (WEEE)” Directive, highlights that in Europe alone Member States generated between 8.3 and9.1 million tons of e-waste in 2005. In Australia, with an average of 22 electrical items per household, theAustralian Bureau of Statistics has estimated that in the next two years, most of the 9 million computers,5 million printers and 2 million scanners in Australian homes will be replaced. In the US, the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) has reported that the US generated 1.9 to 2.2 million tons of e-waste in 2005,with only 12.5 per cent collected for recycling.

We stronglybelieve in thegoals and activities of StEPto solve the global challenge

of e-waste and to close theresource cycles. We contributethrough our international network, projects and our morethan 15 years of hands-onexperiences.

Bernd Kopacek, Austrian Society for SystemsEngineering and Automation(SAT)

When much ofWEEE generated in the world is still exported to developing countries despite

the Basel Convention, StEP is aunique network to find new ideasand project partners to solve thee-waste problem in the world andin France.

Cédric Gossart, AssociateProfessor, TELECOM &Management SudParis


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Business Principles for Re-use

To enable product re-use, productreturns from the market have to bemanaged, prepared and qualifiedfor another use phase andmarketed again to their targetmarkets. All these activities involvemultiple actors and complexproduct flows. The challenge forcompanies in this sector is tomatch available supply of usedproducts to market demand.Furthermore, companies have tounderstand the influencing factorson return and sales markets forused electronics.

StEP’s ReUse Task Force hasthus launched a research thesisaddressing this topic, supervisedby the Technische UniversitätBraunschweig, Germany. The goalof this thesis is to develop a pre-diction model for product returnsand secondary market sales.Validation with real market datashould help researchers to under-stand re-use markets. And varyingkey parameters will allow them tobuild scenarios of future marketdevelopments and predict productflows. The results of this thesis willflow into a StEP White Paper onBusiness Principles for Re-use.

Framework Conditionsfor Re-use

The White Paper on FrameworkConditions will discuss the follo-wing questions:• What is the benefit of re-use?• What is the current situation?• What are barriers to re-use?• How to overcome these?Work on this White Paper has juststarted.

Forum for Re-use Research

Task Force members have seen theurgent need for an internationalplatform to share ideas, questionsand i n fo rmat ion , focus ingspecifically on re-use only. ThusStEP helped to organize a separateforum at the Electronics GoesGreen 2008 conference, lookinginto professional re-use, refurbish-ment, remarketing and sustainableconsumption of electronics. Theforum was entitled the 1st WorldReUse Forum and its highly inter-active discussion sessions coveredmatters such as innovat ivebusiness models in re-use markets,communication with stakeholders,re-use technology, tools anddesign, re-use and transboundarysh ipments , g loba l re -usedefinitions. It is envisaged toestablish a conference series, withthe next World ReUse Forum takingplace in Japan in 2010.

StEP is one of the world’s mostrelevant initiativespaving theground for a future with

sustainable ICT. Empa as amaterials science andtechnology institute of the ETHdomain is proud to be part ofthis initiative.

Lorenz M. Hilty, Professor,Technology and Society Lab,Empa – Swiss FederalLaboratories for MaterialsTesting and Research


Task Force 4: ReCycle

Modern electronics can containmore than 60 different elements:many are valuable, some arehazardous and some are both.Despite all legislative efforts toestablish a circular flow economy,today the majority of valuableresources a re los t due toinsufficient collection efforts, inap-propriate recycling technologies,and above all due to large andoften illegal exports streams of e-waste into regions without any orwith inappropriate recycling infra-structures.

I nc reased take-back andinnovative recycling technologiesat the different steps of the re-cyc l ing chain can generategenuinely sustainable products andservices and can create newmarkets. What is more, next to thedirect impacts of recycling onresource efficiency, sustainable

recycling operations contribute toreduc ing g reenhouse gasemissions. The ecological footprintof mining, especially regarding theprecious and special metals usedin electrical and electronic equip-ment, is very high due to the lowconcentration of these metals inthe ores and often difficult miningconditions. Recovering thesemetals through environmentally-sound e-waste recycling needsonly a fraction of energy comparedto mining ores in nature.

StEP’s ReCycling Task Forceaims to connect with a multitude ofstakeholders involved in realizingsustainable recycling systems forelectrical and electronic equipmentworldwide. The ReCycling TaskForce strives to increase evidence-based decision-making and enablethe independent role that scientificresearch should play in complexsustainability themes such as e-waste recycling.

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Philips perceivesStEP as an inter-national stakeholderplatform that

results in a betterunderstanding of e-wastemanagement for all parties involved and creates improvement opportunities forrecycling systems worldwide.

Theo Schoenmakers, Senior Director Sustainability,Philips Consumer Lifestyle

The mission of DSF is to contribute to thecreation of a fair,all-inclusive information

society, by putting ICT at theservice of human development.We are very proud to be part ofthe StEP initiative which enableus to share information with various partners and better handle the e-waste manage-ment issue in a multi-stake-holder perspective.

Cissé Kane, Project Manager, GlobalDigital Solidarity Fund (DSF)


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The Best of Two Worlds

The Chinese e-waste recyclingsystem is characterized by efficientmanual pre-process ing wi threlatively pure fractions and littlematerial losses. However, primitiveand hazardous processes are oftenfound when it comes to the actualrecovery of complex material, suchas printed wiring boards. Theexistence of such primitive recy-cling techniques combined with theupcoming e-waste amounts inChina underlines the need of urgentaction in order to avoid tremendousenvironmental and social impacts.

StEP’s ReCycling Task Forcemembers have thus launched theResearch Project “The Best of TwoWorlds“. The Best of Two Worldscombines manual dismantling,traditionally prevalent in newlyindustrializing countries with lowlabour costs , wi th the bestavailable technology for the furtherprocessing of complex materials.The aim is to optimize the interface

between manual pre-processingand further treatment by assessingthe optimal dismantling level.

The realization of modern,environmentally sound and large-scale disassembly processes andsubsequent monitoring of theresulting material streams are keyelements in enhancing the qualityof treatment, economies of scaleand suppor t i ng a g radua lconversion of the uncontrolledin formal sector in to bet tercontrolled recycling operations. Inthis project, attention focuses onp r o f e s s i o n a l , t r a n s p a r e n toperations that comply withenvironmental, health and safetystandards. By strengthening suchoperations it becomes possible tooptimize resource chains and meetthe rising demand for materials in amore eco-efficient way. At thesame time a growth in employmentand improving environmental,health and safety conditions can berealized.

Why is so much e-waste unaccounted for?

The US EPA has estimated a 5 to 10 per cent increase in thegeneration of e-waste each year globally. Perhaps even morealarming is that only 5 per cent of this amount is being recovered. Sowhat happens to the rest? In Europe the review of the WEEE Directiveby the United Nations University found that 25 per cent of the totalweight of the EU’s e-waste in 2005 was unaccounted for.Astoundingly, that means there was no scientific data available toexplain where over 6 million tons of e-waste is going each year. Whyis so much e-waste unaccounted for? We don’t really know for sure.Enough is known to suggest a few explanations, such as illegal tradeto developing countries, like China and India, domestic ‘informal’processing centres as well as the e-waste that remains in the sheds,attics and storage rooms of sentimental owners.

Partnership and knowledgetransfer are thetwo key issuesfor joining theStEP Initiative

There is a need to apply anenvironmentally and economically sound e-wastemanagement system in theMiddle East & North Africa incooperation with the StEPmembers.

Hossam Allam, RegionalProgramme Manager, Centrefor Environment andDevelopment for the ArabRegion & Europe (CEDARE)


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Supporting theStEP Initiativealigns withMicrosoft’s commitments tohelp bridge the

Digital Divide and enhance there-usability of personal computers and other devices tokeep them out of the wastestream as long as possible. The e-waste problem is complex, and StEP fosters collaboration among stake-holders and emphasizes thevalue of scientific research.Together we are workingtoward a solution.

Kimberly Braun, Environmental Engineer,Microsoft Corporation – Enter-tainment and Devices Division

E-waste Management in Africa

Most African countries do not havethe appropriate infrastructure inplace yet to deal with the growingamount of waste from electronic(computers, mobile phones etc.)and electrical (e.g. washingmachines, fridges) equipment. Thiswaste primarily arises from anincreased demand for suchproducts, the import of new andused products as well as donationsto schools and charities.

Many African countries have anactive informal sector whichharvests the valuable materialscontained in WEEE. This activityoccurs in backyard operations andprovides an important source ofincome for local workers.Consequently, there is likely to besome resistance from this sector tothe introduction of new automatedsystems. Any solution musttherefore involve the informalsector, which provides jobs for theunder-privileged; however, theprocesses used to treat e-wasteneed to be improved to increaseworker safety and minimizeenvironmental damage.

The ReCycling Task Force hasaddressed this issue in a project onE-waste Management in Africa.Th i s p ro jec t i nc ludes ana s s e s s m e n t o f e - w a s t emanagement in Kenya, Moroccoa n d S e n e g a l a n d t h eimplementation of a replicablepilot-project for the processing of

e-waste in South Africa. By sharingknowledge between countries andfrom other continents, StEP canexplore new usage and potentialmarkets for the by-products of e-waste. This will clearly help togenerate income for underservedpeop le i n the respec t i vecommunities. The final reports canbe accessed via http://www.step-initiative.org/publications/index.php.

StEP Recycling Guidance

Now that climate change andenvironmental degradation are highup on the political agenda, corpo-rate “greenwash” threatens the realand honest efforts of all thosetaking steps to reduce resourceconsumption, greenhouse gasemissions, mitigate climate changeand min imize env i ronmenta ldestruction.

Prepared by the ReCycling TaskForce, StEP’s Recycling Guidancepaves the way for establishing anapproach similar to GenerallyAccepted Accounting Principles –whereby flows are accounted for ina standard way throughout thetreatment and downstream vendorchain. Such guidance aims tosupport the development ofrecommendations for global re-cycling and auditing standards andfacilitate an international network ofwell-trained auditors from theAuditing Consultancies involved.

The NCER valuesthe forum thatStEP provides for internationalinformationexchange and

problem solving, such as lessons learned from the implementation of other e-waste policies around theworld as we move forward withnew state systems in the US.

Jason Linnell, ExecutiveDirector, National Center forElectronics Recycling (NCER)


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The Environmental Fate andEffects of Hazardous Substances

With the increasing legal and illegaltrade of waste electrical andelectronic equipment worldwidecomes an equally increasingconcern that poor e-waste re-cycling techniques particularly indeve lop ing coun t r i es a regenerat ing more and moreenvironmental pollution that affectsboth ecosystems and people livingwithin or near the main recyclingareas.

Until recently, it has been difficultto clearly l ink environmentalpollution with e-waste recyclingactivities. However, an increasingnumber of studies published overthe past few years clearly indicate acausal relation between pollutionlevels and emissions from informale-waste recycling activities.Atmospheric pollution due toburning and dismantling activitiesseems to be the main cause foroccupational and secondaryexposure at the e-waste recyclingsites. Other emissions from e-waste recycling such as leachatesand toxic liquids, increase humanexposure through affected naturalresources such as soils, crops,drinking water, livestock and fish.

Summarizing these studies andcreating a solid basis for furtherscientific discussion, Task Forcemembers have initiated a review ofthe environmental fate and effectsof hazardous substances releasedfrom electrical and electronicequipments during recycling. The

review compiles information frompublished literature about

the fate and environ-mental levels

of lead,

polybrominated diphenyl ethers,dioxins and furans in e-waste re-cycling areas of China and India,two of the countries most impactedby informal and inappropriate re-cycling practices, where there is agreat need for resources and verylow labour costs.

Such reviews highlight the needfor environmental and occupationalprotection measures to introduceadvanced processing methods,i m p r o v e t h e w o r k p l a c eenvironment, and biomonitor theexposed populations. The paper isi n the rev i ew p rocess fo rpublication by a journal.

Recycling – From E-Waste to Resources

Recycling reduces waste going todisposal, decreases consumptionof natural resources and improvesenergy efficiency. Hence, it is a keyprocess, which can be improvedthrough innovative and moreeffective processes and technolo-g ies . Tha t sa id , recyc l i ngprocesses and technologies haveto be identified for a range offramework conditions and e-wasteproducts, recognizing that thebarr iers for implementat ion,especially in developing countries,can be high.

Contracted by UNEP, a StEPconsortium has undertaken aresearch study on “SustainableInnovation & Technology Transfer –From E-Waste to Resources”,analysing the market potential ofrelevant technologies for the e-waste recycling sector in selecteddeveloping countries, applying theframework for UNEP technologytransfer activities and identifyinginnovation hubs and centres ofexce l l ences i n emerg ingeconomies relevant for e-wasterecycling technologies. The studyfor UNEP was f ina l i zed inDecember 2008 and is planned forpublication in 2009.

At our ChihoTiande treatmentcentre, all e-waste ends upas a reservoir of valuable

materials. The treatment ofobsolete electronic appliancesis reversed assembling. I believe in exchange of ourexpertise, with mutual benefitsfor all stakeholders.

Stephan van Ooyen, Chiho Tiande


Task Force 5: Capacity Building

Generally speaking the challengesand opportunities e-waste poses toour society are still widely over-looked. StEP’s Capacity BuildingTask Force aims to strengthen thefoundations for sustainable andefficient management of electricaland electronic products throughtheir entire life-cycle.

Task Force members initiate andm a i n t a i n l i n k s b e t w e e npractitioners, thus gaining acomprehensive overview onexisting approaches, tools andnetworks for capacity building andbuilding a dialogue with relevantkey actors in this field. Based onthis expanding network, theCapacity Building Task Forcestrives to identify and developviable approaches (content andmethodology) adapted to differenttarget countries/target groups, totes t t hese approaches byimplementing pilot-projects, and toembed these pilot-projects insustainable structures (localadoption, follow-up, resourcesetc.). These approaches andexperiences from pilot-projectsshould then also lead to thededuction of criteria and standardsand the elaboration of guidelinesand recommendations.

The Capacity Building Task Forcehas made slow progress in 2008,as it has lacked a Task Force co-ordinator during the course of theyear, with United Nations Universitytaking over interim coordination.Efforts focused on the realization ofa summer school on e-wastem a n a g e m e n t a n d t h erepresentation of StEP at variousinternational conferences andevents.

Summer School on E-wasteManagement

The vision for the summer schoolsis to develop the foremost forum

available to young scientistsinvolved in e-waste relatedresearch, where they can sharetheir knowledge, interact withexperts and develop collaborativepartnerships that foster high qualitycutting-edge scientific research onall areas related to e-waste – frompolicy to technology and fromeconomics to social aspects. Thee-waste summer schools are apioneering concept in the researchand educat ion on e-wastemanagement, looking at the e-waste issue in its entirety, ratherthan through the lens of a specificacademic discipline.

The e-waste summer schoolsoffer participants a diversecurriculum in an innovative frame-work supported by variousteaching and learning metho-dologies including lectures, work-shops, participant presentations,group projects and plenarydiscussions with an internationalinterdisciplinary faculty and ex-perienced facilitators. Divided intotwo, the first summer school willhave a greater focus on prioritisingand developing the researchagenda through research projects;and the second summer school’semphasis will lie on the evaluationof the research results and theapplicability of the lessons learnt.

The first summer school, sup-ported by NVMP and Philips CL, isplanned to take place in September2009 in Eindhoven, the Nether-lands.

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We are alwaysaware of theissue of e-waste disposal whendealing as anadvertising

agency with our internationalelectronics customers. We areglad being an active part ofStEP since its foundation andcontributing to the success ofthis initiative.

Axel Schneider, Executive Director,promotion team wetzlar


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Politécnico Nacional México,México D.C.

• Refurbishment and reuse for thecivil society, Ángel EduardoCamacho L., Computadorespara Educar, Bogota, Colombia

Discussions were held followingthese presentations in two groups,one focusing on the governmentand civil society perspective andanother looking at the issue fromt h e i n d u s t r y p e r s p e c t i v e .Government representativesident i f i ed inc reased pub l icawareness, improvement ofcommunication among publicactors, harmonization of legislationand technical norms, and capacitybuilding as major needs andpotentials for regional cooperation.The industry group formulated theneed to have harmonized anda u d i t a b l e r e c y c l i n g a n drefurbishment standards. It alsopointed out the requirement ofintensifying global and regionalknowledge exchange.

The meeting participants con-cluded that there was a desireamong policy-makers in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean toimplement harmonized policies,but they needed guidance oncreating and implementing suchpolicies. It was agreed that theassembled group could act as thenucleus of a body that could pro-vide such guidance. RELAC wouldtake a leadership role in thecreation and management of sucha body and StEP could providescientific and technical analysis tosupport decision-making. RELACand StEP are currently developingproposals that will be used togenerate resources to supportthese efforts.

Further details on the workshopmay be found at: http://ewasteguide.info.

Dataserv becameinvolved in STEPbecause we feel as a company that there needsto be more

direct involvement in the settingup of responsible practices forthe disposal of e-waste in the developing world.

Neal Saunders, GroupManaging Director, Dataserv

E-waste Management in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean

In 2008 the StEP North AmericanRegional Focal Point worked withEmpa and RELAC (a regional plat-form on e-waste in Latin Americaand the Caribbean) in coordinatinga workshop on the challenges andstrategies for e-waste managementin Latin America and the Caribbean(LAC). This was held at the REWAS2008 Global Symposium onRecycling, Waste Treatment andClean Technology in Cancun,Mexico, during October 2008. Theprimary objective of the workshopwas to identify major challengesand strategies associated with themanagement of e-waste in LACunder the policy principle ofExtended Producer Responsibility.This was accomplished by facilita-ting discussion among OEMs,recycling companies, PROs,government authorities, andacademics. The discussion en-abled the analysis of existing ex-periences and identification ofsuitable approaches to deal withchallenges, including exploring thepotential of regional solutions andthe role of public-private partner-ships.The workshop included thefollowing presentations which weremeant to stimulate ideas fordiscussion: • General overview on the e-

waste situation in LAC, UcaSilva, Regional Platform on e-waste RELAC – SUR/IDRC,Santiago, Chile

• E-waste situation and trends inO E C D c o u n t r i e s , J o h nDickenson, AER Worldwide,StEP Initiative, Fremont, USA

• Legal framework and the role ofgovernments, Dr. Leila Devia,BCRC South-America, BuenosAires, Argentina

• EPR and private sector involve-ment, Ricardo Gonzalez Llera,IBM, New York, USA

• Regional example: México, Dr.Guillermo Román, Instituto


E-learning Course on E-wasteManagement

CEDARE and UNEP havecooperated in developing an e-learning course on e-wastemanagement. The objective of thiscourse is to build capacity ofpractitioners and decision makersto guide and support them to plan,design and implement e-wastemanagement including policy, col-lection, transportation and treat-ment in a city/geographical areaand country.

Study on E-Waste Managementin the Arab Region

In cooperation with UNEP, CEDAREhas implemented a study on e-waste management practices in theArab countries. A survey wascarried out covering all ArabSta tes . I n to ta l ove r 300questionnaires were sent out toNGOs, governmental organi-zations, and ICT companies. Thereceived answers indicate that


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StEP as it is animportant vehiclefor Datec to understand howthe legislators,industry and

academia see the reuse market,too much is wrongly perceivedand therefore wrongly legislated; it allows developinggood business protocols for our industry.

Jeff Bormann, Datec Technologies Ltd.

there is no formal e-waste sector inthis region. Five internationalorganizations, four companies andfour NGOs are active in nine Arabcountries. The practices aremostly assessment studies andbasic data collections leading tothe assumpt ion tha t t heimp lementa t ion o f e -was teprojects is in its initial phase. Thereceived answers showed that theprivate sector enterprises areactive in Egypt and the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) supportingthe collection of used mobilephones and batteries and theirrefurbishment/recycling.

More than 25 potential partnerswere found for a collaboration indifferent fields like awarenesscampaigns, capacity building,technical assistance for recyclingand refurbishment projects,donation of old end-of-life (EOL)equipment, or funding of futureprojects. The report is download-able f rom ht tp: / /www.s t e p -initiative.org/publications.


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The StEP Website

observers. It also states relevantactors and int roduces a l lcompanies and institutions acti-vely involved in StEP activities

• News • Events • Publications• Projects – as one module of

making StEP the e-wasteknowledge platform, a firstversion of a project database one-waste-related projects hasbeen set up on StEP’s website.Th is da tabase compr i sesinformation on projects withinand outside of StEP. Projectinformation can be enteredthrough an easy-to-use form.

For more information seewww.step-initiative.org

StEP’s website has been designedto generate interest in theInitiative’s work on the e-wasteproblem and act as a tool forexternal communication. Its basicsections are:

• Initiative – gives an overview ofthe main objectives and a brieflook back at the history of StEPalso linking to its organizationalstructure and relevant actors

• Task Forces – presents the workof the five Task Forces, theirobjectives and current tasks

• Actors – gives an overview ofStEP’s organizational structurewith the key elements being theSteering Committee, Secretariatand five Task Forces involving itscoordinators, members and

Governments need to developeffective regulatory regimes thatempower the

market to respond positively tothe challenge of e-waste. By partnering with the privatesector and civil society, theycan promote value chains thatallow for a circular economy.

Guido Sonnemann,Programme Officer forInnovation and Life CycleManagement, SustainableConsumption and ProductionBranch, UNEP/DTIE


StEP File Gallery

Acknowledging the rising need foran up-to-date and easy to usedocument management system,StEP has established an online filemanagement system, the so-calledFile Gallery. Its objectives are to: • Provide an online-database of

StEP documents

• Guarantee internal knowledgedissemination

• Limit unnecessary email flows• Provide a tool for external com-

munication allowing ‘AnonymousUsers’ to access some elementsof the File Gallery. Hence, non-StEP members interested in thework of the initiative can get an


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FHG/IZM valuesthe internationaloutlook and broadcoverage of recycling and re-use within StEP.

Our work on electronics recycling and ecodesign in thepast has repeatedly highlighted,that not only a national or EUwide cooperation, but a globalone is required.

Nils F. Nissen, Head ofDepartment EnvironmentalEngineering, Fraunhofer-Institutfuer Zuverlaessigkeit undMikrointegration (FHG/IZM)

The vision of Öko-Institut is away of life that isenvironmentallyand socially sustainable

throughout the world. As a leading European research institute we expect that StEPwill contribute to solve the global e-waste problem.

Matthias Buchert, Head of the Infrastructure andEnterprises Division, Öko-Institut e.V.

E-waste – A Global Challenge It is evident that e-waste is a global concern because of the natureof production and disposal of waste in a globalized world. Andwhilst it is difficult to know exactly how much e-waste there is, we doknow that large amounts end up in places where processing occursat a very rudimentary level. This raises concerns about resource effi-ciency and also the immediate concerns of the dangers to humansand the environment. There is a long and sometimes complicatedchain of events in the e-waste problem, beginning from an idea thatsomeone has for a new product and then its production, ending in itspurchase and eventual disposal by the end user. By engaging withvarious stakeholders and relevant scientific wisdom within this chainof events, we are on the way to Solve the E-waste Problem (StEP).

StEP Events

The following overview summarizesvarious international conferencesand events which have beenorganized by the StEP Secretariator where StEP has been present toraise visibility and present outco-mes of the work so far.

23 January 2008Meeting of StEP Task Force Policy,hos ted by Un i ted Na t ionsUniversity in Bonn, Germany

24 January 2008Meeting of StEP Task Force Re-use, hosted by United NationsUniversity in Bonn, Germany

25 April 2008Coordination Meeting betweenStEP and the Secretariat to theBasel Convention on synergizingefforts in the e-waste sector,

hosted by the German Ministry ofEnvironment, Bonn, Germany

13-15 May 2008StEP General Assembly 2008,hosted by Ericsson, Stockholm,Sweden

7-10 September 20081st World ReUse Forum in line withthe Electronics Goes GreenConference, Berlin, Germany

6-10 October 2008E-waste session at the Wasteconconference in Durban, South Africa

12-15 October 2008E-Waste Workshop at REWAS2008, the 2008 Global Symposiumon Recycling, Waste Treatment andClean Technology in Cancun,Mexico

insight, without having access tosensitive data though.

The file gallery can be found athttp://files.step-initiative.org/

In addition, a StEP MemberNewsletter is published on a regu-lar basis via email.


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MMEEMMBBEERRSS

International Organizations

Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)

Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF)

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

United Nations University (UNU)

Industry

AER Worldwide

Cisco Systems Ltd.

Dataserv Ltd.

Datec Technologies

Dell

Ericsson

Flection

GOAB mbH

Hewlett Packard (HP)

MicroPro

Microsoft

National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER)

Nokia

Philips Consumer Lifestyle

promotion team wetzlar

Sims Recycling Solutions

Taizhou Chiho Tiande

Umicore Precious Metal Refining

Wellington Green

Full Members


MMEEMMBBEERRSS

3311

Governmental and Development Cooperation

German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)

Swiss State Secretariat of Economics (SECO)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)

Academia & Research

Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation (SAT)

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Delft University of Technology

GAIKER Foundation

Griffith University

Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut)

Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA)

Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM)

Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)

Rifer Environmental

Technische Universität Braunschweig

TELECOM & Management Sud Paris

Thai Electrical and Electronic Institute

University of Melbourne

University of Limerick

3P Consortium for Sustainable Management

Associate Members

Waste advisers on urban environment and development

ENDA Europe


The StEP Initiative

Initiated by various UN organiza-tions, the Solving the E-wasteProblem Initiative (StEP) works withrepresentatives from industry,governments, international organi-zations, NGOs and the academia toinitiate and facilitate approachesthat promote the sustainable hand-ling of e-waste. Organized in fiveTask Forces, feasible, just andenvironmentally safe solutions forthe e-waste problem are developedthrough analysis, planning and pilotprojects. For more informationplease visit www.step-initiative.org.

StEP Secretariatc/o United Nations UniversityZero Emissions ForumEuropean Focal PointUN-CampusHermann-Ehlers-Straße 1053113 Bonn, GermanyTel: +49-228-815-0213/0214Fax: [email protected]

The United Nations University

The United Nations University is anorgan of the Uni ted Nat ionsestabl ished by the Genera lAssembly in 1972 to be an inter-national community of scholarsengaged in research, advancedtraining, and the dissemination ofknowledge related to the pressingproblems of human survival, deve-lopment and welfare. TheUniversity operates through aworldwide network of research andpostgraduate training centres.

www.unu.edu

Photos

© by Chiho Tiande, EMPA Switzer-land, Wilfried Garn, Cédric Gossart,HP, Nokia and Umicore.

Disclaimer

United Nations University/StEPInitiative 2008

This work is licensed under theCreative Commons by-nc-ndLicense. To view a copy of thislicense, please visit http://creative-commons.org.

This publication may thus bereproduced in whole or in part andin any form for educational or non-profit purposes without specialpermission from the copyrightholder, provided acknowledgementof the source is made. No use ofthis publication may be made forresale or for any other commercialpurpose whatsoever without priorpermission in writing from the StEPInitiative/United Nations University.

The StEP In i t ia t ive / Uni tedNations University would ap-preciate receiving a copy of anypublication that uses this publi–cation as a source.


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