European recyclers support Japan’s objection to the OECD over e-waste

in his latest book position paperEuropean recyclers rallied support for Japan’s objection to new international rules that risk subjecting shipments of non-hazardous e-waste to onerous administrative requirements.

Nowadays, around the world some 53.6 million tons of e-waste annuallyThis number is expected to rise to 110 million tons by 2050.

The e-waste stream is inherently complex Pick up and the Recycling Proper materials play an essential role in preventing contamination from improper handling. This increases the environmental benefits in terms of saving resources, carbon dioxide and energy. On the other hand, the efficient transfers of e-waste is also vital to keep pace with the e-waste recovery rate through circular value chains.

E-waste recycling companies in Europe are already equipped to deal with this social challenge With state of the art facilities adhering to the most stringent environmental standards. As such, a functional circular economy of e-waste already exists that addresses environmental and human health concerns.

However, new Basel standards that could be incorporated into the OECD framework would impose onerous additional requirements that could hamper e-waste recycling.

“There is no need to reinvent the wheel,” says Olivier François, President of EuRIC, the European Union of Recycling Industries. recycling industries.

“Recyclers in Europe are already setting international standards for their adherence to the highest environmental and human health standards in a market that is already well functioning. Implementation of the new Basel standards could prevent, rather than facilitate, the recycling of e-waste. Instead, regulatory intervention should focus to reduce illegal shipments.

For this reason, European recycling Support Japan’s proposal To maintain Standards GC010 and GC020 in Annex 3 Part II of the OECD Decision, and not subject movements of non-hazardous e-waste within the OECD to the cumbersome administrative procedures required by PIC.