Working group
Challenges
With 53.6 million metric tons generated worldwide in 2019, e-waste is fastest growing waste stream.
Only 17.4 % per cent of 2019’s e-waste was documented to be collected and properly recycled.
Environmentally sound e-waste management requires expensive end-of-life treatment facilities, as it contains toxic and valuable substances.
Using sub-standard processes when recovering valuable metals puts people’s health and the environment at risk
Resources
Discussion paper on practical experiences with the Basel Convention
The discussion paper Practical Experiences with the Basel Convention: Challenges, Good Practice and Ways to Improve Transboundary Movements of E-Waste in Low and Middle Income countries has been developed by the PREVENT-StEP joint Working Group. It aims to gather practical experiences with the export of waste electrical and electronic equipment and fractions thereof from low and middle income countries to environmentally sound management (ESM) facilities abroad according to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) notification procedures of the Basel Convention.
Studies on the Management of End-of-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries and Flat Panel Displays in Nigeria
The project E-Waste Compensation as an international financing mechanism in Nigeria (ECoN) completed two feasibility studies which address the possibilities for responsible management of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries from domestic consumption as well as of end-of-life flat panel displays in Nigeria.
The studies were carried out with Closing the Loop, who organised the environmentally friendly and appropriate collection, transport and final management together with Verde Impacto Nigeria and Hinckley Recycling Ltd. in Nigeria. SRADev Nigeria and Oeko-Institut e.V. guided the project from a scientific and local policy perspective.
Download the feasibility studies here:
Problematic E-Waste Fractions Project Complete
From 2020 to 2021, the PREVENT project “Finding solutions for problematic e-waste fractions in the Balkans, Latin America and East/West Africa” developed finance and treatment solutions for PUR Foams, lithium ion batteries, e-waste plastics and mixed waste shipments with recyclers. The final report and finance models are available here:
The project held trainings on batteries and e-waste plastics. Download the training material:
Sub-working group with StEP Initiative on the implementation of the Basel Convention
Following a first exchange with the Basel Convention Secretariat in February 2021 on the challenges caused by notification procedures for the transboundary movement of e-waste, PREVENT and StEP have initiated a cross-alliance working group to collect experiences from members in different countries. The aim is to find ways to improve local implementation and facilitate transport to qualified recycling facilities abroad.
Pilot projects
In four pilot projects innovative solutions on closing e-waste cycles are tested in different local contexts. The elaborated recommendations and tools are adapted to specific local conditions and guide implementation in selected countries.
The Electronics Waste Challenge
Why join?
Become a member!
You are active in the field of waste management and circular economy or you are a stakeholder in the plastic or electronics value chains? You want to intensify your cooperation with partners?
Members of the working group
![E[co]work Association](https://prevent-waste.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ecowork_logo.jpg){kind=logo}
Leads & Contact
Alexander Batteiger
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
+49 6196 797240
Jana Mandel
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
+49 (0)228 4460 3626
All working groups
Closing plastic cycles
Closing e-waste cycles
Closing organic waste cycles
