A study on developing a National Household E-Waste
Policy for Malaysia
Zaipul Anwar ZainuMalaysia Japan International Insitute of Technology
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia7th November 2015
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Structure of this presentation
1. E-Waste is a pressing environmental issue2. Economic opportunity on e-waste3. E-waste lifecycle in Malaysia4. The need to have a national e-waste strategy5. Three approach on e-waste management6. Current challenges for Malaysia7. Ingredients for success
E-Waste: Is A Pressing Environmental Issue like a time
bomb waiting to explode
E-Waste: Environmental Issue
• Inappropriate end-of-life management of e-waste can create toxic environmental impacts:– Manual dismantling: people dismantling electronic
and electrical equipment manually may suffer health impacts
– Landfill: toxic substances in e-waste can contaminate water sources and ground soil with cadmium, mercury & lead, and release CFCs
– Incineration of e-waste plastics generates harmful dioxins and furans
Nevertheless there is an Economic Opportunity on E-waste
E-Waste: Economic Opportunity
• The growing e-waste economic opportunity is driven by:• Valuable components and materials contained in
electronic waste (e.g. gold, copper, silver, palladium, indium)
• Regulatory approaches such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes that ensure additional financing for collection and recycling activities.
The E-Waste Life Cycle
in Malaysia
Collection
Consumption
Transport
Sorting
Secondary processing
Depollution DismantlingShredding
Landfill Reuse
E-Waste Import
Collection
Treatment
Secondary raw materials Output
Generation& Stockpilling
The need to develop a national household e-waste strategy
• At the moment no laws specific to household e-waste. A national strategy implemented by regulation may have the objective to:
• Determine the basis on which the market is organized – and make it profitable to enter the market
• Mitigate health and environmental risks from toxic substances in e-waste.
• Reduce pressure on primary commodities in a world with dwindling resources.
Based on my study there are 3 approaches to E-Waste Management in the world
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)– European
• Consumer Pays – Japan
• Mixed Model– US
Extended Producer ResponsibilityEurope: Producers and importers are responsible for their products Advantages:•New industry created in collection, dismantling & processing of e-waste•Better design of products to reduce compliance costs •Encourage high and growing collection rates
Disadvantages:•Higher product costs born by consumers •Enforcement costs
Consumer Pays Japan: Retailers are responsible for collecting end-of-life products.But consumers pay at the time of disposal, between $20 - $80 (USD)
Advantages:•Strong and achievable targets, including focus on harmful wastes (CFCs)•Up-front payment by user ensures finances recycling
Disadvantages:•Weak producer incentive to improve product design•Weak monitoring and frequent violations by retailers•Illegal dumping by consumers to avoid paying the fee
Mixed Model
The US: No consensus of industry & government on financing, therefore no federal regulations:
– Patchwork of state regulations, mostly based on limited or full Extended Producer Responsibility
Advantages:•Low cost to manufacturers & distributors & space for different approaches to flourish
Disadvantages:•Low and patchy e-waste recycling activities•Patchwork of regulations hinders industry development nationally•No national awareness of e-waste issues
What are other emerging economies doing?
• The big question for larger economies is whether & how to do smelting and processing domestically or focus on dismantling and initial processing for export
• India
• South Africa
India
• Still working on draft law to:
• Introduce extended producer responsibility • Define and include stakeholders • Ban the import of used electrical and electronic
equipment for charity in the country.• Formalize the very large informal sector
South Africa
• 2009 Waste Act makes manufacturers and importers must define an Industrial Waste Management Plan (IWMP) before they can sell products in South Africa
• Producers and importers gathered in the e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) to implement their IWMP
• Consumer Protection Act forces retailers to accept take-back from consumers buying a new product
Study on what is the best system/policy for Household E-waste Management in Malaysia
Objective: whichever approach is chosen, the national strategy should aim to:•Clear roles and responsibilities among e-waste actors •Definition implementation mechanisms and institutional support, as well as enforcement measures
Current challenges for Malaysia
• Importing & lack of control over producers• ‘Donations’ and dumping• Size of economy and e-waste feedstock• Transport infrastructure• Informal sector competes for feedstock• Smelting & processing is highly capital-
intensive• Enforcement, Enforcement, Enforcement
Essential ingredients for successNational strategy should include:•Discussion with all stakeholders: producers, importers, retailers, consumers, refurbishes, recyclers, dismantlers, scavengers, NGOs, academics, environment & other enforcement agencies•Financial scheme that allocates costs of collection & treatment•Reasonable and progressive targets to keep the momentum going•Public awareness - raising•Enforcement measures
Thank you for your attention!