Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Authors:
Richard Gutierrez
Gabrielle Agarrado
Researchers:
Cherry Anne Oracion
Rey Palacio
Jun Felix
Thony Dizon
Aileen Lucero
Gie Relova
Kris Peralta
Iori Espiritu
Joel Escandor
Totoy Quijano
Acknowledgements
To the Communities of Pier 18 (especially Ka Louie and Family)
Paradise Heights, Manila and Dreamland Cavite
Foundation for the Philippine Environment
EcoWaste Coalition
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia
Greenpeace Philippines
Mother Earth Foundation
Basel Action Network
Photo Credits
Images by Ban Toxics!
Support
This report was prepared with the support of the EcoWaste Coalition
BOEXJUImOBODJBMGVOEJOHGSPNUIF'PVOEBUJPOGPSUIF1IJMJQQJOF
Environment and the Basel Action Network.
Disclaimer
The study has been researched and prepared by Ban Toxics! with all
reasonable care and due diligence. The study does not necessarily
SFnFDUUIFWJFXTPGUIF'PVOEBUJPOGPS1IJMJQQJOF&OWJSPONFOU
BOEUIF
author is entirely responsible for its accuracy. Any third party who rely
on information contained in this report, or their own interpretation thereof,
do so at their own risk.
For more information visit: www.bantoxics.org
http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com
Executive Summary
Electronic waste or e-Waste is a crisis borne by volume
and toxicity. A 2005 study on the current and future
quantity of e-waste in the Philippines estimates that approximately 2.7 million units of televisions, refrigerators,
air conditioners, washing machines and radios became
obsolete by the end of 2005, with around 1.8 million units
JRLQJWRODQGOOV)URPWRDSSUR[LPDWHO\
25 million units became obsolete, with an additional 14
million units projected to follow the same route by 2010.
E-waste generation becomes more pronounced in developed countries.
,QWHUPVRIWR[LFLW\VWXGLHVKDYHUPO\HVWDEOLVKHGWKH
toxic constituents of e-waste from lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, several forms of brominated
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these substances affects both humans and wildlife and
the persistence of some of these toxins in the environment make them even more dangerous.
E-wastes in the Philippines come from two sources: locally generated and foreign e-wastes. Locally generated
e-waste comes from new products that are distributed
in the local market that are eventually are eventually
GLVSRVHGRIE\FRQVXPHUV)RUHLJQJHQHUDWHGHZDVWH
comprise of two distinct categories:
End-of-life products or products that have been disposed
of at the country of export and e-waste per se.
7KHVWXG\XQFRYHUHGWKDWVKLSPHQWVRIXQXVHGHOHFWURQLFVDUHRIWHQXQFODVVLHGDQGERXJKWE\PHUFKDQWV
without knowing fully well the status of the electronic
HTXLSPHQWLQWKHVKLSPHQW%DQ7R[LFVLQYHVWLJDWLRQ
revealed that as much as 50% of the shipment at times
contains e-waste.
When these materials enter the country or are disposed
RIWKHUHLVDQHIFLHQWV\VWHPWKDWUHWULHYHVWKHHZDVWH
for processing and recycling. Informal waste pickers
play a great role in segregating and manually separating
these wastes. Unfortunately, some practices at this level
are environmentally unsound that it exposes both waste
pickers and the community to the toxicity in e-wastes.
Open burning of PVC coated plastics, breaking and
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printed circuit boards, and the cutting and shredding of
SODVWLFVFRDWHGZLWK%)5VDUHVRPHRIWKHKLJKO\HJUHJLRXVSUDFWLFHVWKDW%7GRFXPHQWHGLQWKHFRXUVHRIWKH
study.
Introduction
In 2003, 6,720 metric tons of solid waste was generated daily in Metro Manila alone. Of this amount, only
5,600 metric tons entered the municipal collection
system for disposal reportedly at nine dumpsites all
over the metropolis. The rest were dumped illegally
on private lots and bodies of water, or burned. This
municipal solid waste is generated by residential
sources (48%), informal settlers (26%), and commercial and industrial sources (26%). Currently,
over 12,000 scavengers, waste pickers and informal
recyclers make their living off this waste.
While decaying regular municipal waste household
and
organic garbage could be a nuisance and dangerous if not properly managed, todays rapidly shifting
trends in consumer preferences and planned obsolescence of electronics goods
are giving rise to another kind of wastediscarded
electronic equipment called electronic waste, or ewaste. Large volumes of this obsolete and end-of-life
equipment such as computers, televisions and mobile
phones are piling up in landfills not only in the Philippines but also across the globe. In fact, experts
estimate that 20 to 50 million tones of e-waste are
generated worldwide every year, comprising more
than 5 percent of all municipal solid waste.
Ban Toxics! (BT) conducted this study to learn more
about the e-waste phenomenon in the Philippines.
What is e-waste?
E-waste is a term commonly used to represent almost
all types of electrical and electronic equipment that
has entered or could enter the waste stream. Under
UIJTHFOFSBMEFmOJUJPO
OFBSMZBOZIPVTFIPMEPSCVTJness tool that contains electrical circuitry components
or requires electric power or battery supply can be
considered as e-waste. Examples of e-waste include
television sets, computers, mobile phones, home entertainment and stereo systems, and kitchen appliances
such as refrigerators, toasters, and the like.
It is also known as waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE). The European Union further describes e-waste in its WEEE Directive by classifying
electrical and electronic equipment into
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t-BSHFIPVTFIPMEBQQMJBODFToPWFOT
refrigerators, etc.
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cleaners etc.
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The town of Guiyu in Guangdong Province, China, was
in the spotlight in 2001 when the Basel Action Network
(BAN) documented the dumping, processing, and trade
of e-waste in Guiyu, in its report, Exporting Harm:
The High-Tech Trashing of Asia. Beginning 1995, the
formal agricultural community has been transformed
into an active e-waste processing site, with hundreds of
trucks delivering discarded
electronics on a daily basis.
These electronics are said to come from a number of
countries, causing an article to dub Guiyu as the e-waste
capital of the world . Institutional labels on the waste
allowed BAN to identify the main source as North America,
although some were also found to come from Japan,
South Korea and Europe.
Spent toner cartridges, circuit boards, computer and
printer housings, CRT yokes, wires and cables are
among the many things that were processed, mostly
with makeshift equipment and no protective gear for the
workers. Sweeping and recovery of toner, open burning
of PVC-coated wires, breaking of CRT screens, and
recycling of circuit boards were done directly in the
village, which housed not only the workers, but also
children and pregnant women. Incidentally, many of the
workers are also women and children, working in appalling
conditions for an average daily wage of $1.50.
The sampling conducted by BAN confirmed heavy
metal contamination in water and sediment collected
from Lianjiang River, where circuit boards have been
burned, treated with acid, and dumped. The water
sample was found to contain 190 times the World Health
Organizations threshold level of lead for drinking water.
Likewise, the sediment sample contained lead, barium,
tin, chromium and copper in amounts much higher than
the United States Environmental Protection Agencys
threshold levels for environmental risk in soil. A
glaring indicator of the level of pollution in Guiyu is the
deteriorating quality of local drinking water. A year after
the e-waste industry began in Guiyu, drinking water had to
be delivered from a town 30 kilometers away, due to
groundwater pollution.
,QGLD
India is another hotspot for e-waste dumping and processing,
according to a 2007 report from Toxics Link India. Around
150,000 metric tons of e-waste is generated locally every
year, with 19,000 metric tons coming from the city of
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BMPOHXJUIUIFTVCTUBOUJBMBNPVOUPG
e-waste which is still being imported illegally, makes its
way to crude recycling markets found across the country.
Electronics scrap trading hotspots can be found in Indias
National Capital Region, particularly in Kurla, Saki Naka,
Kamthipura-Grant Road, Jogeshwari and Malad.
As with China, the e-waste processing market in India has
expanded rapidly with the huge amount of locally and
internationally sourced discarded electronics. In fact,
several areas in Delhi have already developed speciali[BUJPOT
FBDIPOFDBSSZJOHPVUBTQFDJmDGVODUJPOJOUIF
informal recycling process. For example, a shipment of
EJTDBSEFEDPNQVUFSTNJHIUmSTUNBLFJUTXBZUP-BKQBU
Nagar for disassembly, before the circuit boards are sent
to Mandoli, and the rest of the plastic housings and other
scrap end up in Old Seelampur for trade.
Cheap labor, minimum capital investment, and an absence
of any regulation of e-waste import have all contributed
towards making India one of the main destinations for
e-waste dumping by developed countries. In its research,
5PYJDT-JOLJEFOUJmFE%VCBJBOE4JOHBQPSFBTQPTTJCMF
transit points for e-waste that is illegally imported from
OECD countries, with international traders using loopholes
in Indias law and passing e-waste off as used working
computers.
An issue of volume
In 2005, the European Union produced 8.3 9.5 million
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CBTFEPOUIFDMBTTJmDBUJPOTJOJUT
8&&&%JSFDUJWF#Z
UIJTBOOVBMQSPEVDUJPOmHVSFJT
expected to reach 12.3 million metric tons by 2020, equal
UPNPSFUIBOTJY1BZBUBTEVNQTJUFTmMMFEUPDBQBDJUZ
The United States is also generating e-waste at a steadily
increasing rate. From junking 20 million computers in 1998
, the US went on to discard 26 37 million more units in
2005. This was only a portion of the e-waste produced in
2005, which weighs in at 1.9 2.2 million metric tons. This
climbed to 3.01 million metric tons in 2007, including 41.1
million computersenough to pack the Araneta Coliseum
with e-waste 32 times.
Even developing countries are not far behind in e-waste
production. Most Asian countries are starting to generate
large quantities of e-waste due to recent economic growth.
In fact, developing countries such as Thailand and the
Philippines are expected to triple their e-waste output by
2010.
An issue of toxicity
Not only does the phenomenon of e-waste pose volume
management problems for countries, it also creates
serious environmental and health concerns. E-waste
contains a cocktail of hazardous materials that can
pollute groundwater and surrounding bodies of water,
and contaminate the air and ultimately affect biodiversity.
Moreover, people exposed to such materials may be
more prone to brain and reproductive system problems
and different forms of cancer.
&DGPLXP
Cadmium can be found in some rechargeable batteries, semiconductor chips, and in the phosphor coating
of CRT monitors. When released to the environment,
it accumulates in aquatic organisms and agricultural
crops. Due to its long half-life and stability, cadmium can
build up in the body. Chronic, low-level exposure causes
kidney disease and bone brittleness. Cadmium and its
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to cause lung cancer in workers exposed to cadmium in
the air.
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Hexavalent chromium, or Cr (VI), is commonly found in
metal parts of electronic equipment, particularly as an
anti-corrosive coating on screws, rivets, bolts, frames,
chassis, switches, plugs, and others. It can also be
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JTB
strong irritant to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It
is a carcinogen, attacking the lungs. Cr (VI) may also
be genotoxic in human cell lines, causing DNA strand
breaks and chromosome damage.
/HDG
Lead is widely used in solder, batteries, electronic
components, and in the glass of CRT monitors, among
others. Its main target is the nervous system, both in children and in adults. Short-term exposure to high levels
may cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, brain, kidney, and reproductive system damage, coma and even
death. It also causes anemia and increased blood pressure in middle-aged and older people, and may induce
miscarriage in pregnant women. Although there is no
conclusive proof that lead causes cancer in humans, it
is anticipated to be a possible human carcinogen based
on animal studies.
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Mercury is used in switches, thermostats, batteries, and
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JODMVEJOHUIPTFVTFEJOnBUMJRVJE
crystal display panels. It attacks the nervous system,
adversely affecting brain and motor function, especially
in young children. It also causes kidney damage through
chronic exposure.
3KWKDODWHVSKWKDODWHHVWHUV
Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are often added
as softeners to PVC. These are only physically incorQPSBUFEJOUPUIF17$BOEOPUDIFNJDBMMZCPVOEUIVT
they can migrate out of the product and leech into the
surrounding environment. Phthalates are reproductive
toxicants that particularly affect males, and may cause
asthmatic and allergic reactions in children.
3RO\YLQ\OFKORULGH
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is found mainly in plastic computer and television housing, and in cable insulation.
When burned, PVC releases harmful dioxins, furans, and
phthalates. Dioxins and furans are known carcinogens
and reproductive and developmental toxicants. They also
affect the immune and endocrine systems. Phthalates are
also reproductive toxicants, and may cause asthmatic and
allergic reactions in children.
Table 1. Common chemical components of e-waste and their effects on the environment
Substance
Source
Environmental Relevance
+($9<0(7$/6$1'27+(50(7$/6
1LFNHO
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Rechargeable batteries,
electron gun
Diodes, batteries,
semiconductors
Integrated circuit and
semiconductor
Cathode ray tubes
Beryllium
Cadmium
Lead
Absorbed by plants.
Leaches into the soil and groundwater
If incinerated, it is transmitted to the air and soil.
Lead that accumulates in the environment has highly
acute and chronic toxic effects on plants,
animals and microorganisms.
+$/2*(1$7('&203281'6
Polybrominated
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Polybrominated
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Polyvinyl chloride
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Poly Chlorinated
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Advance Reading
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Capulongan St
January 4, 2011
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Dump site
Pier 18, Smokey Mt. 2
January 4, 2011
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January 4, 2011
11:14 11:24 AM
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Wire burning
Pier 18 dumpsite
January 4, 2011
11:25 11:35 AM
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Residential area
Pier 18
January 4, 2011
11:47 11:57 AM
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Paradise Heights
January 4, 2011
12:01 12:11 AM
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Agri-crops plantation
Smokey Mt.1
January 4, 2011
12:11 12:21 AM
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12
E-waste as commodity
Before electronics were popularized as a waste commodity, broken and obsolete appliances were simply thrown
out with the rest of the household waste. Wastepickers
collected the plastic portions of equipment and discarded
the rest, concentrating instead on collecting used paper,
plastic, glass bottles and tin and aluminum cans. In ____,
somebody learned how to process e-waste, and this started the informal e-waste recycling industry that continues to
support 12,000 informal waste workers all over the country.
In Pier 18, Tondo, Manila, many of the e-waste recyclers,
called mambuburaot, have been engaged in this livelihood
for generations. Many of them cite lack of better opportunities as their reason for remaining in this profession, but
also admit that wastepicking and informal recycling are
lucrative enough to support their families, especially since
e-waste became a major commodity. Several families have
been able to send their children to school, with little capital
aside from hard physical labor and patience. One woman
XBTBCMFUPFYQBOEIFSPQFSBUJPOTBTXFMMGSPNCFJOH
a simple mambubulasi, she eventually became a buyer,
setting up a big junk shop with 2 trucks and providing
FNQMPZNFOUUPBEP[FOXBTUFQJDLFSTVTJOHIFSQSPmUTGSPN
the e-waste boom in 1997.
13
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The motherboard, also known as the central circuit board,
holds the crucial components for the operation of modern
computers and other electronicsmicroprocessors, memory chips, power connectors, and others. Once collected,
it can be sold as is, fetching Php 220-250 per kilogram, or
further processed to remove small parts such as resistors
and integrated circuits, and to recover precious metals like
gold and beryllium.
Copper wire
Copper is contained in most if not all electrical wiring.
Recovered copper, with the PVC coating already removed
by burning or wire stripping, can be sold for Php 280-290
per kilogram. Some buyers also purchase copper wire still
in its original PVC installation for a much lower price of Php
100 per kilogram.
Plastic
The hard plastic housings of computers, mobile phones,
BOEUFMFWJTJPOTBSFDMBTTJmFECZXBTUFQJDLFSTBTiNBMVtong, to differentiate it from polyethylene drink bottles and
polystyrene disposable cups. This is sold for Php 16 per
kilogram.
Compact discs
Compact discs are made of polycarbonate plastic. A
kilogram of CDs, approximately 50 pieces, sells for
Php 17.
Aluminum
Many metal reinforcements for structural support in
electronics are made of aluminum. This is sold for
Php 50 per kilogram.
/HDG7LQJJD
Lead that is used to coat the inside of CRT monitors is
barely recoverable, as its dust form scatters easily when
CRTs are broken. Whatever lead can be recovered from
batteries, circuit components and solder is sold for Php 30
per kilogram.
2WKHUPHWDOV*ROGVLOYHUEHU\OOLXPHWF
Precious metals in e-waste are found mainly in the circuit
boards and its small components. Recovery of these
metals, which include gold, silver and beryllium, require
further processing techniques which ordinary wastepickers
are unfamiliar with, or deem as time-consuming.
14
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Several global and regional initiatives have been spearheaded by parties such as the Basel Convention and the
European Commission to address the ballooning problem
of e-waste.
Take-back policies and formal recycling
As part of their compliance with the WEEE Directive of
2002, EU member states are required to ensure that manufacturers and importers of electronics to establish comprehensive take-back and recycling programs. At end-of-life,
DPNQBOJFTNVTUmOBODFUIFDPMMFDUJPO
USFBUNFOU
SFDPWFSZ
and disposal of their products in an environmentally sound
manner, usually through the services of a formal recycling
facility. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Sony
have already established take-back programs in Europe.
0RELOH3KRQH3DUWQHUVKLS,QLWLDWLYH033,
The Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI) was
launched in 2002 during the sixth conference of the parties
to the Basel Convention. Together with the Convention and
other stakeholders, mobile phone manufacturers signed
a Declaration supporting the development and promotion
of the environmentally sound management of end-of-life
mobile phones.
5IF.11*XBTTQFDJmDBMMZDSFBUFEUPBDIJFWFCFUUFSQSPEuct stewardship, promote the best refurbishing, recycling
and disposal options, and to mobilize political and institutional support for environmentally sound management,
among others. To date, 15 manufacturers have joined the
MPPI.
Through the MPPI, technical guidelines were developed
on the collection, transboundary movement, refurbishment and material recovery of used and end-of-life
mobile phones, as well as awareness-raising on design
considerations. An overall Guidance Document was
prepared containing these, and is now in use by
industry, NGOs, and other stakeholders in awarenessraising campaigns and other actions.
3DUWQHUVKLSRQ&RPSXWLQJ(TXLSPHQW3$&(
The Partnership on Computing Equipment (PACE) is
a multi-stakeholder partnership formed to address the
environmentally sound management of used and end-oflife computers. It offers a forum governments, industry,
NGO and academe to participate in providing innovative
approaches to this facet of the e-waste issue.
The PACE aims to promote sustainable development
in the use, repair and refurbishment of computers in
developing countries, incentivize the option of sending
computers to material recovery facilities versus land
disposal, develop technical guidelines for proper repair,
refurbishment and recovery, and end the shipment of
unsalvageable computers to developing countries.
Initiatives by PACE project groups are under way to
identify existing materials on environmentally sound
management of computers, to develop guidelines on
repair, refurbishment and material recovery, and to pilot
special methods of managing computer-related waste
in developing countries, effectively diverting these from
MBOEmMMBOEPQFOCVSOJOHTJUFT
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To respond to the need for updated knowledge on
cleaner technologies in e-waste repair, refurbishment,
recycling and recovery, the Basel Convention, together
with UNEP, the BC Regional Centers, and local NGOs,
EFWFMPQFEBQSPKFDUTQFDJmDBMMZGPSUIFNBOBHFNFOUPG
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The four-year program aims to support national and local
JOJUJBUJWFTUPEJWFSUFOEPGMJGFDPNQVUFSTGSPNMBOEmMMTUP
promote sustainable use and recycling, to provide an
overview of the regional e-waste situation for the development of policies, and to raise public awareness on the
environmentally sound management of e-waste.
15
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Formal e-waste recycling
Although no organized take-back initiatives or e-wasteTQFDJmDEJSFDUJWFTFYJTUJOUIF1IJMJQQJOFTZFU
UIFSFBSF
already a number of government-accredited facilities
engaged in electronics recycling. In these facilities, special
machines are used to dismantle obsolete electronics into
component parts: motherboards, power supply, hard disk
drives, plastics, and metals. Metals, power supply and
plastic are sold for recycling. Motherboards and other
circuit boards can be sold to buyers in Taiwan, Japan and
South Korea for recycling and recovery of precious metals
such as gold. Some companies, upon recovering intact
components, use these to put together serviceable new
equipment.
One such e-waste recycling company is HMR Envirocycle,
BMPDBMBGmMJBUFPGUIF"VTUSBMJBCBTFE).3(SPVQ).3JT
dedicated to the re-marketing, de-manufacturing and recycling of obsolete or non-working electronics. Around 10 to
15 tons of electronics are brought to their facility
weekly, refurbished and then sold at competitive prices in
their partner surplus depot, HMR Philippines. The rest of
their collections undergo remanufacturing processes to recover recyclable components such as plastic, non-ferrous
and ferrous metals, and the like. These are brought to treatment facilities and resold. Automated equipment such as
CRT crushers reduce workers exposure to the chemicals
found in electronics. ,
'(1516:0&PRGXOHVIRULQIRUPDOZDVWHVHFWRU
In July 2010, the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), an attached agency of the DENR,
developed a safety module for the informal waste sector.
The module, which focused mostly on chemical safety,
aimed to educate the different people engaged in the sector about the occupational hazards they are exposed to,
as well as some immediate measures that can be taken to
minimize health and environmental risk.
The module was developed by the NSWMC, in partnership
with EcoWaste Coalition, and through consultation with
wastepickers from Pier 18 and Smokey Mountain in Manila,
and will be brought to major cities in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila.
Weekend recycling markets recyclables collection events
Large scale e-waste collection events have been organized
by the Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE), a
OPOQSPmUPSHBOJ[BUJPOUIBUBJNTUPIFMQ1IJMJQQJOFJOEVTUSZ
address its environmental concerns and responsibilities,
in order to encourage more electronics recycling by
households as well as industry.
16
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Despite reports of e-waste being dumped in developing
countries by developed countries, it is largely the European Union and the United States that have come up with
TQFDJmDMFHJTMBUJPOBHBJOTUUIFHFOFSBUJPOBOEEVNQJOH
of e-waste. These legislative measures address design of
electronics, as well as collection and disposal when the
products have reached end-of-life. In developing countries
such as India, China, and the Philippines, laws against improper e-waste import, dumping and processing are either
inadequate or still non-existent.
European Union
1. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
Directive 2002/96/EC, or the WEEE Directive, sets
collection, recovery, and recycling targets for all
kinds of electrical goods, and became European
Law in February 2003. Since then, the 25 member
states of the EU were obliged to transpose into
national law the directives provisions, which assigns
responsibility for the collection and disposal of ewaste to the manufacturers of such equipment. The
manufacturers are compelled to manage the collected e-waste in an environmentally-sound manner,
whether through ecological disposal, or by refurbishing and reusing the materials.
2. Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive
Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Commission, more commonly known as the RoHS Directive, restricts the use of six hazardous materials in
the manufacture of various types of electronic and
electrical equipment. Any new equipment manufactured and put on the market since the regulation
was put into force in July 2006 must not contain lead,
mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers in
quantities exceeding assigned maximum concentration values.
United States
In the United States, 24 states have passed laws for
statewide e-waste recycling, with 4 more states introducing
legislation in 2011. Of these, all states except California
mandate the use of the Producer Responsibility approach,
where the manufacturer of electronics shoulders the cost
of managing the generated waste at end-of-life. The indiWJEVBMMBXTWBSZPOUIFTQFDJmDQSPWJTJPOT
QBSUJDVMBSMZPO
the scope of products covered, who pays for the recycling,
inclusion of bans on prison labor and disposal, and others.
For example, in Hawaii, free recycling is offered for
IPVTFIPMET
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OPOQSPmUPSHBOJ[BUJPOT
BOE
government, whereas only households can avail of free
service in Maine.
India
Current laws on the management of handling and waste,
TQFDJmDBMMZUIF&OWJSPONFOU"DUPGBOEUIF)B[BSEous Material Rules of 2008, address industrial manufacturing waste, and do not cover e-waste generated locally
by end-of-life products and internationally by illegal
trade.
In April 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests introduced the E-waste Management and Handling Rules
for public comment. The proposed rules are similar to
the EUs WEEE Directive, as it aims to make producers and manufacturers responsible for the collection
and disposal of e-waste. Recyclers, intermediaries and
consumers are also covered by the proposed law. In
addition, the law also proposes to ban the import of used
electronics for the purpose of charity, as a lot of e-waste
is brought into India under the pretext of donation to local charities.
Philippines
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UIFSFJTOPTQFDJmDMBXPOFXBTUF
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EUs WEEE Directive or Indias proposed E-waste Rules.
Instead, discarded electronics fall under the special
waste category of Republic Act No. 9003, or the
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA
9003). The act, which is a general law that aims to
reduce and properly manage solid waste in the PhilipQJOFT
JEFOUJmFTUIFMPDBMHPWFSONFOUVOJUTUPCFSFTQPOsible for the collection and handling of special wastes,
and to identify current and proposed programs to ensure
proper handling, re-use and long-term disposal of such.
In addition to RA 9003, Republic Act 6969 (RA 6969),
also called the Toxic Substance and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Act of 1990, seeks to, among others,
with regard to chemical substances and mixtures that
present an unreasonable risk or injury to health or the
environment to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use
and disposal thereof. With regard to hazardous and
nuclear wastes RA 6969 seeks to prevent the entry, even
in transit, as well as the keeping or storage and disposal
of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country for
whatever purpose.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Administrative Order 29 (AO 29), series of 1992
is the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 6969.
AO 29 outlines the processes, including the requirements, in the management of toxic and hazardous
wastes, as well as the penalties that may be imposed in
violation of the law.
17
Issues of Concern
The e-waste crisis is borne by volume and toxicity.
Unfortunately, other factors are contributing to the
growing complexities of
1. Re-use and refurbishment
2. Wastes vs. Goods
Similar to the re-use and refurbishment approach,
the wastes vs. goods approach in exporting toxic
e-waste to developing countries rely on changing the
legal characteristic of a shipment to give it access
UISPVHIQPSUPGmDJBMT5IJTJTBUUJNFTDBMMFEUFDIOJDBM
smuggling where exporters label the wastes as goods
in order to escape regulation at the port.
For instance, a toxic waste trader will label the shipment
as paper instead of e-waste, knowing fully well that
DVTUPNTBOEQPSUPGmDJBMTNBZCFXBSZPGBOZFXBTUF
shipment.
3. Emerging Trade Agreements
Over the past seven years, a series of bilateral new
age economic partnership agreements have been
inked by Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and several of its members namely:
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Viet Nam.
The agreements utilized the name economic partnership agreements (JEPAs). These JEPAs essentially
trade agreement that complements the basic the WTO
agreements on goods and services, and incorporate
areas presently not covered under the WTO called the
Singapore issues (i.e., investment, government procurement, competition policy, and trade facilitation).
These JEPAs have invariably been called WTO-Plus
agreements and Mega-Treaties to evoke their scope
and magnitude.
Civil society groups voiced concerns over the JEPAs
questioning their constitutionality to the impact of the
trade related provisions on the local economy. Amidst
the din of protests the JEPAs received in Southeast Asia
the issue of toxic waste trade resonated with most prominence. The issue of Japans intent to make Southeast
Asia its toxic waste bin and the ensuing environmental
and public health blight that could occur as a result of
the tsunami of Japanese toxic wastes caught the public
and the government of Japans attention.
Concerns have been raised over these JEPAs particularMZQSPWJTJPOTUIBUSFEFmOFiXBTUFTwBT+BQBOFTFHPPET
which effectively changes the legal nature of the materials. Unlike technical smuggling, the JEPAs outrightly
legitimizes toxic waste trade as legal trade and runs
counter to the Basel Convention.
18
The agreements utilized the name economic partnership agreements (JEPAs). These JEPAs essentially
trade agreement that complements the basic the WTO
agreements on goods and services, and incorporate
areas presently not covered under the WTO called
the Singapore issues (i.e., investment, government
procurement, competition policy, and trade facilitation).
These JEPAs have invariably been called WTO-Plus
agreements and Mega-Treaties to evoke their scope
and magnitude.
Civil society groups voiced concerns over the JEPAs
questioning their constitutionality to the impact of the
trade related provisions on the local economy. Amidst
the din of protests the JEPAs received in Southeast
Asia the issue of toxic waste trade resonated with most
prominence. The issue of Japans intent to make Southeast Asia its toxic waste bin and the ensuing environmental and public health blight that could occur as a
result of the tsunami of Japanese toxic wastes caught
the public and the government of Japans attention.
Concerns have been raised over these JEPAs particuMBSMZQSPWJTJPOTUIBUSFEFmOFiXBTUFTwBT+BQBOFTF
goods, which effectively changes the legal nature of
the materials. Unlike technical smuggling, the JEPAs
outrightly legitimizes toxic waste trade as legal trade
and runs counter to the Basel Convention.
8QUHVSRQVLYH%DVHO&RQYHQWLRQ
The Basel Convention has long considered e-waste as
toxic waste that are subject to its jurisdiction. However,
with the continuing rise in e-waste generation and the
export of the toxic wastes, the Basel Convention appears
to be struggling in responding to this global challenge.
Crucial to this view is the continued inability of the Convention to pass the much heralded Basel Ban Amendment which prohibits the export of all toxic wastes, either
for disposal and recycling, from developed coutnries,
known as Annex VII countries, to developing countries.
The Basel Ban Amendment was introduced in 1995, and
in 16 years, the amendment lays languishing, an unfortunate victim, so it seems to the overpowering interests
behind allowing toxic trade to continue.
/DFNRI)DFLOLWLHV
During the conduct of this study BT has consulted with
consumers and e-waste generators and the question
that is often asked is where can locally generated ewaste be brought for disposal. A perusal of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources website ultimately reveals that there is not enough licensed facilities
in the country to deal with all the e-wastes. Majority of
facilities are in the island of Luzon and fewer still covers
major cities such as Cebu and Davao, and fewer still or
none at all in other outlying areas.
The government needs to address either creation of
formal recycling facilities or improved collection and
transport so that local e-waste can be re-directed to
formal recycling faculties.
/DFNRI$ZDUHQHVV
In communicating with waste pickers, local government
PGmDJBMT
BOEPUIFSQPMJDZNBLFSTUIFSFJTBQPTJUJWFTUFQ
JOUIFMFWFMPGBXBSFOFTTPGNPTU$PNQBSFEUPmWF
years ago, there is now a greater understanding of ewastes. However, not all sectors have been reached.
The government and civil society still needs to reach the
household level and further educate them on the dangers of e-waste.
19
%DQ7R[LFV
26 Matalino St., Suite 329 Eagle Court
Diliman, Quezon City 1101
Philippines
TeleFax: +63 2 355 7640
www.bantoxics.org
Asian Development Bank, Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Project Final Report, September 2003.
The Study on Solid Waste Management for Metro Manila in the Republic of the Philippines, Final Report,
1SFQBSFECZ1BDJmD$POTVMUBOUT*OUFSOBUJPOBMGPSUIF+BQBO*OUFSOBUJPOBM$PPQFSBUJPO"HFODZ +*$"
.BSDI
3
V. T. Vizcarra. 2010. Down in the dumps. BusinessWorld Online. Available online, http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/
content.php?id=9764. Accessed 21 July 2010.
4
UNEP Global Resource Information Database, Europe. E-waste, the hidden side of IT equipments manufacturing and
use, 2005. http://www.grid.unep.ch/product/publication/download/ew_ewaste.en.pdf
5
http://www.step-initiative.org/
6
Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 January 2003, on waste electrical and
FMFDUSPOJDFRVJQNFOU 8&&&
1VCMJTIFEJO0GmDJBM+PVSOBM-
'FCSVBSZ"NFOEFECZ%JSFDUJWF&$
PO%FDFNCFS0GmDJBM+PVSOBM-
%FDFNCFS
7
Secretariat of the Basel Convention. The Basel Convention: Key instrument in addressing the environmentally sound
management of electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste), April 2009.
8
UNEP/UNU: Recycling From e-waste to resources
9
BAN: Exporting Harm
10
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002920133_ewaste09.html
11
BAN: Exporting Harm
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid.
14
Mumbai: Choking on E-Waste - A study on the status of e-waste in Mumbai
15
E-waste in India: System failure imminent (Toxics Link)
16
E-waste in India: System failure imminent (Toxics Link)
17
ChemSec. http://www.chemsec.org/rohs/background/e-waste-and-recycling
18
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL, ELECTRONIC PRODUCT RECOVERY AND RECYCLING BASELINE REPORT (1999)
(Cross-referenced from Exporting Harm) get proper reference
19
EPA factsheet e-waste management in the US
20
Facts and Figures Electronics Takeback Coalition
21
6/&1TPVSDFo$)&$,5)*4065IUUQXXXVOFQPSH%PDVNFOUT.VMUJMJOHVBM%FGBVMUBTQ %PDVNFOU*%"SUJDMF*
%MFO
22
Current status and research on e-waste issues in Asia (2006)
23
G.L. Peralta and P.M. Fontanos, E-waste issues and measures in the Philippines, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste
Management 8 (2006): 34-39.
24
EMPA, Hazardous substances in e-waste.
25
"54%35PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPS#BSJVN"UMBOUB
("64%FQBSUNFOUPG)FBMUIBOE)VNBO4FSWJDFT
1VCMJD
Health Service.
26
"54%3
i5PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPSCFSZMMJVNw64%FQBSUNFOUPG)FBMUIBOE)VNBO4FSWJDFT
1VCMJD)FBMUI4FSWJDF
27
"54%3i5PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPSQPMZCSPNJOBUFECJQIFOZMTBOEQPMZCSPNJOBUFEEJQIFOZMFUIFSTw64%FQBSUNFOU
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
28
N. M. Tue, et. al. (2009). Contamination by PCBs and BFRs in Vietnamese human milk associated with recycling of e-waste.
From Interdisciplinary Studies on Environmental Chemistry Environmental Research in Asia, Eds., Y. Obayashi, T.
Isobe, A. Subramanian, S. Suzuki and S. Tanabe, pp. 9197. by TERRAPUB, 2009. http://www.terrapub.co.jp/online
proceedings/ec/02/pdf/ERA10.pdf
29
Ibid.
30
"54%35PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPS$BENJVN Draft for Public Comment). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Public Health Service.
31
"54%35PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPS$ISPNJVN Draft for Public Comment). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Public Health Service.
32
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2007. 5PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPSMFBE 6QEBUF
. Atlanta, GA:
U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
33
&.1"
4XJTT'FEFSBM*OTUJUVUFPG5FDIOPMPHZ
i)B[BSEPVTTVCTUBODFTJOFXBTUFwBWBJMBCMFGSPNIUUQFXBTUFHVJEF
JOGPIB[BSEPVT@TVCTUBODFT*OUFSOFUBDDFTTFE/PWFNCFS
34
"54%35PYJDPMPHJDBM1SPmMFGPS.FSDVSZ"UMBOUB
("64%FQBSUNFOUPG)FBMUIBOE)VNBO4FSWJDFT
1VCMJD
Health Service.
35
Greenpeace --- http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/what-s-in-electronic-devices/bfrpvc-toxic#phthalates
36
Health Care Without Harm. 2006. Why health care is moving away from the hazardous plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
In Going green: A resource kit for pollution prevention in health care. 9 Sept. 2009. <http://www.noharm.org/lib/down
loads/pvc/Moving_Away_from_PVC.pdf>
37
"54%3i5PYJDPMPHJDBMQSPmMFGPSWJOZMDIMPSJEFw64%FQBSUNFOUPG)FBMUIBOE)VNBO4FSWJDFT
1VCMJD)FBMUI4FSWJDF
2
38
Health Care Without Harm. 2006. Why health care is moving away from the hazardous plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
In Going green: A resource kit for pollution prevention in health care.
39
E-waste and measures in the Philippines, 2006
40
E-waste and measures in the Philippines, 2006
41
JICA report
42
Electronic waste in the Philippines Status, 3R and policy issues
43
Electronic waste in the Philipines Status, 3R and policy issues
44
GAO paper
45
IUUQXXXVOFQPSH%PDVNFOUT.VMUJMJOHVBM%FGBVMUBTQ %PDVNFOU*%"SUJDMF*%MFOUMPOH
46
BAN Exporting Harm
47
http://www.emb.gov.ph/hazardous/Treater.PDF
48
A. Papa, Hazardous waste piling up in Manila, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 24, 2010. Available online:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100124-249217/Hazardous-waste-piling-up-in-Manila (accessed
June 20, 2010).
49
Materials for the Future Foundation. CRT Glass to CRT Glass Recycling, September 2001.
50
Malabon e-waste interview (2009)
51
Payatas e-waste interview (2009)
52
K. Adraneda, Green group wants government to douse open burning, The Philippine Star, March 2, 2009. Available
online: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=444778 (accessed June 20, 2010).
53
&DPXBTUFmFMEJOUFSWJFX
+BOVBSZ
54
Electronic waste in the Philippines Status, 3R and policy issues
55
HMR Envirocycle website
56
Video from DTI BOI, JICA, UNDP on Envirocycle website
57
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2002L0096:20080321:EN:PDF
58
http://europa.eu/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en00190023.pdf
59
http://www.electronicstakeback.com/promote-good-laws/state-legislation/
60
http://www.pcworld.com/article/195205/india_plans_laws_on_ewaste_management.html
61
http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Draft%20E-waste-Rules%2030.3.10.pdf
62
http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9003.htm
63