E-Waste Legislation Varies Among Asian Nations
NEWS — By on November 23, 2009 at 7:50 amStep by step, e-waste legislation is introduced at different paces in countries like China, Malaysia and Thailand. Calls are heard for increased global harmonisation of laws to tackle the problem.
Developing nations are expected to triple their output of e-waste by 2010. The effect of booming economies and increased IT consumption all over the world makes electronic waste pile up in landfills or in private homes. Increasingly loud voices call for global harmonisation of e-waste legislation. The state of e-waste policies in Malaysia, Thailand and China reveal how different the same, global problem is tackled by different legislators.
Malaysia – no proper recycling
Malaysia is part of the Basel Convention treaty which restricts the export of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries. The Malaysian Association of Standards Users criticises that there is no proper recycling mechanism in place at the moment to encourage consumers to recycle or discard e-waste. Malaysian consumers recycle about five per cent of their e-waste. In Malaysia e-waste is categorised as scheduled wastes under the code SW 110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005. But this act does not deal with household waste. The Malaysian Government has not, despite a grand campaign, changed public behaviour in or attitudes to waste recycling.
Thai RoHS – voluntary marking
The new Thai standard on RoHS-conformity marking took effect in February 2009. The standard is voluntary and more of resemblance to a label than to legislation, which may help in marketing. The standard goes under the name ‘Electrical and electronic equipment that may contain hazardous substances: restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances.’ It covers equipment that falls within the scope of EU RoHS. Consumers recycle about half their discarded electronic goods.
China – introducing RoHS and WEEE but slow progress
China, the world’s largest user community for products like mobile phones, computers and TV sets, has introduced RoHS which is finally on its way to its second step with compulsory and specific product requirements. The country, which previously did not define waste comprehensively in the law, will introduce e-waste legislation from 2011. Electronic products must then contain information on toxic and harmful contents and recycling processing. This will also include recycling and processing requirements.
Tags: 1SO 14001, certification, computers, estewards, ewaste, ewaste management, recycling, recycling expo, scrap circuit boards, scrap phones
Developing nations are expected to triple their output of e-waste by 2010. The effect of booming economies and increased IT consumption all over the world makes electronic waste pile up in landfills or in private homes. Increasingly loud voices call for global harmonisation of e-waste legislation. The state of e-waste policies in Malaysia, Thailand and China reveal how different the same, global problem is tackled by different legislators.
Malaysia – no proper recycling
Malaysia is part of the Basel Convention treaty which restricts the export of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries. The Malaysian Association of Standards Users criticises that there is no proper recycling mechanism in place at the moment to encourage consumers to recycle or discard e-waste. Malaysian consumers recycle about five per cent of their e-waste. In Malaysia e-waste is categorised as scheduled wastes under the code SW 110, First Schedule, Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005. But this act does not deal with household waste. The Malaysian Government has not, despite a grand campaign, changed public behaviour in or attitudes to waste recycling.
Thai RoHS – voluntary marking
The new Thai standard on RoHS-conformity marking took effect in February 2009. The standard is voluntary and more of resemblance to a label than to legislation, which may help in marketing. The standard goes under the name ‘Electrical and electronic equipment that may contain hazardous substances: restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances.’ It covers equipment that falls within the scope of EU RoHS. Consumers recycle about half their discarded electronic goods.
China – introducing RoHS and WEEE but slow progress
China, the world’s largest user community for products like mobile phones, computers and TV sets, has introduced RoHS which is finally on its way to its second step with compulsory and specific product requirements. The country, which previously did not define waste comprehensively in the law, will introduce e-waste legislation from 2011. Electronic products must then contain information on toxic and harmful contents and recycling processing. This will also include recycling and processing requirements.
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