Policy trends of ewaste management in Asia

Authors: Agamuthu Pariatamby Dennis Victor

Publish Date: 2013/04/17

Volume: 15, Issue: 4, Pages: 411-419

PDF Link

Abstract

This paper examines the policy trends of electronic waste ewaste management in Asia Ewaste is a rapidly growing waste stream in the world today and is estimated to be growing at 3–5  per annum Fast paced obsolescence in the electronic sector has resulted in the generation of ewaste There are concerns that ewaste generated in developed countries is ending up in developing countries especially in Asia resulting in adverse environmental and health impacts Consequently a number of countries in Asia are developing policy instruments to ensure the proper management of ewaste These include ewaste regulatory frameworks data and inventories and infrastructure and capacity building These trends indicate a positive development path towards sustainable ewaste management in Asia Nevertheless potential limiting obstacles for ewaste management in Asia may also include an overreliance on legislation to drive ewaste management or the simplistic adoption of policies from developed countries without taking into context the local political cultural and socioeconomic waste management issues Consequently this paper suggest that ewaste policy development may require a more customized approach where instead of addressing ewaste in isolation it should be addressed as part of the national development agenda that integrates green economy assessment and strategic environmental assessment as part of national policy planning In conclusion policy trends of ewaste management in Asia appear promising provided there is a paradigm shift from an ewaste perception of an environment problem to a ewaste perception of a potential opportunity as sustainable national green growth strategy in Asia

Keywords: