The eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the Basel Convention, an international treaty controlling hazardous waste trade and disposal, was held last week in Nairobi, Kenya. A serious tone was set for negotiations by a toxic waste dumping in Côte d'Ivoire last August that left many dead and thousands requiring medical attention. Although over 30 decisions were made on various hazardous waste issues, the primary focus of COP8 was the creation of innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of electronic waste, also known as e-waste.

The Growing E-Waste Problem

Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is the fastest growing component of municipal waste worldwide with 20-50 million tonnes generated annually. Electronic waste includes products such as personal computers and mobile telephones (see maps). E-waste disposal is expensive because it is laden with toxic heavy metals that are dangerous to the environment and human health. Many developed countries circumvent these high costs by selling electronic waste to developing countries for recycling or disposal. Developing countries, however, often lack the waste disposal infrastructure, environmental and health regulations, and technical capacities necessary to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste.

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/mobile_phones_per_1000_people

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/personal_computers_per_1000_people

Map Designer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

COP8 Decision on E-Waste

The decision on electronic waste adopted at COP8 last week calls for urgent action to address the growing e-waste trade between developed and developing countries. In particular, the decision calls for:

increased financial support on e-waste issues;

cooperation to prevent illegal e-waste trade;

phasing out of the most environmentally harmful technologies;

development of improved recycling technologies;

limiting the amount of e-waste sent to developing countries that is not reusable; and

promotion of a "life-cycle" approach to technology production, which integrates the problem of disposal into the design process.

E-Waste Concerns Remain

To many participants at COP8, the recent discussions on e-waste were only a first step in the right direction. Some worry that the Basel Convention lacks the mandate and financial resources to seriously tackle the growing e-waste challenge. In particular, some argue that the Convention must do more to reduce the overall production of e-waste, which occurs mostly in developed countries. Over 60 countries also continue to support the Basel Ban Amendment (making all trade of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries illegal), which was adopted in 1995 but has yet to enter into force.

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/evolution_of_transboundary_movements
_of_waste_among_parties_to_the_basel_convention

Map Designer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

RELATED LINKS:

Basel Action Network

World Forum on E-Waste

COP8

US Environmental Protection Agency, Information on e-cycling

EarthTrends

Toxic Trade: The Real Cost of Electronics Waste Exports from the United States

Data on mobile phone, personal computer, and television use