Southeast Asia has turn into considered one of the fastest-growing technology regions on the earth. However, this development has brought latest challenges in the shape of e-waste. With the increasing use of electronic devices akin to mobile phones, computers and other electronic equipment, it is vital for Southeast Asian countries to handle the issue of e-waste and develop sustainable solutions.
E-waste itself means electrical or electronic equipment that needs to be thrown away. Includes all kinds of old, decommissioned or discarded electrical and electronic equipment akin to household appliances, office ICT equipment, entertainment and consumer electronics, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, electrically powered toys and recreational equipment, sports equipment and recreational.
Asia has turn into the world’s dumping ground for e-waste since China stopped importing waste in 2018. Since then, Southeast Asia has turn into the subsequent destination for waste disposal, each legal and illegal. The major recipients of waste are countries akin to Malaysia and Thailand.
One study noted that following China’s lockdown from 2016 to 2018, there was a 171% increase in waste shipments to Southeast Asia. Most waste consists of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials. However, as waste import regulations in Southeast Asia are likely to be lax, e-waste should find yourself in illegal landfills.
According to the Global E-waste Statistic Partnership report for 2020, the quantity of e-waste on the earth has increased by 21% over the past five years. In 2019, the quantity of e-waste generated reached a record level of 53.6 million tons.
The latest data from the United Nations University also shows that Southeast Asia is facing an e-waste problem of alarming proportions. In 2021 alone, an estimated 12.3 million tons of e-waste will likely be generated within the region, transforming the environmental situation from worrying to urgent crisis.
In fact, in accordance with the most recent UN Global Electronic Waste Monitoring Report, it’s estimated that by 2030, the quantity of e-waste generated worldwide will exceed 74 million metric tons.
How big is e-waste in Southeast Asia?
The problem of illegal import and dumping of e-waste has unwittingly turned Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines into major hubs. The problem doesn’t only come from abroad, but in addition affects the local population in these countries. The problem also affected other countries within the region.
According to a report by Thailand’s National Environment Council, roughly 435,000 tons of e-waste will flow into the country by 2020. Only about 100,000 tonnes, or lower than 1 / 4, will likely be properly managed and disposed of. As a result, most hazardous materials are left untreated, which may result in environmental and public health disasters.
The Philippines, considered one of the most important e-waste producers in Southeast Asia, recorded roughly 3.9 kg of e-waste per person in 2019. However, the country faces challenges in controlling pollution to cut back exposure to such waste. Challenges in e-waste management within the Philippines stem from the dearth of pollution control methods, limited research on informal e-waste recycling, and the dearth of advanced recycling technologies. The effects of e-waste pollution can harm the environment and climate and threaten the health of local communities.
In turn, in 2019, Vietnam produced 257 kilotons (kt), or about 2.7 kg per person, of e-waste. E-waste in Vietnam is generated by the disposal of electronic and electrical equipment, industrial activities within the electronics sector, illegal import of obsolete equipment from abroad, and operation of dismantling and recycling plants. E-waste management within the country faces plenty of challenges, including the dearth of detailed e-waste regulations, high involvement of unorganized recyclers and lack of advanced recycling technologies.
Singapore also has a serious e-waste problem, generating roughly 60,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. On the opposite hand, Indonesia ranked first as the most important producer of e-waste in Southeast Asia in 2015 with 812,000 tons of e-waste. The next places were taken by Vietnam (45 thousand tonnes) and Malaysia (243 thousand tonnes), which took the subsequent places in the identical yr.
A possible solution
Improving the regulatory and enforcement framework is essential to tackling the e-waste problem in Southeast Asia. Governments must implement strict e-waste management policies and implement penalties for illegal imports and improper disposal. A positive example of that is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program introduced by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) in 2021.
To solve this problem, investments in infrastructure are also needed to make sure responsible management of e-waste. A successful example is Malaysia’s Integrated Electronic Waste Management System (IEWMS), a collaboration between the federal government and the private sector to streamline and standardize the e-waste recycling process.
Additionally, educating the general public on the importance of responsible e-waste management is crucial to driving behavior change. Collaboration between Southeast Asian countries and international organizations, in addition to technological innovation, can play a pivotal role in creating sustainable solutions to the e-waste problem within the region.
Reference: :
Fundafunda, Joshua. (2021). An in-depth have a look at the e-waste crisis in Southeast Asia. Quick start
Tan, Zhixin (2019). Singapore will invest almost $15 million on the earth’s first e-waste recycling laboratory KrAsia
Hill, Dege. (2023). E-waste: Growing environmental concerns in Southeast Asia. KrAsia
United Nations Industrial Development Organization. (2022). Philippines: Making Money and E-Waste Safety
Poudel, Kritika. et al. (2023). E-waste in Vietnam: A narrative review of environmental pollutants and potential health hazards. Environmental health journal reviews
Chung Duc Tran and Stefan Petrus. (2018). Analysis of e-waste recycling structures in Vietnam. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management20, 110-126
