How to reduce e-waste and build circular economies

ITU News

Waste electrical and electronic equipment – or e-waste – is among the world’s fastest growing environmental challenges. At current rates, the world will produce a staggering 74.7 million tonnes of e-waste, equivalent to about 200 Empire State Buildings, annually by 2030, according to the 2020 Global E-waste Monitor.

ITU – the United Nations agency for digital technologies – provides technical assistance to countries that are determined to prepare and implement e-waste regulation.

“Without legally transparent, digitally supported and appropriately financed reporting systems at the national level, the world will be unable to cope with the magnitude and complexity of the e-waste challenge,” says Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director for Telecommunication Development at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

For the global tech industry, reining in e-waste goes together with cutting greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to economy-wide climate solutions. The UN climate conference, COP28, has brought ITU together with over 40 companies and organizations in a concerted push for Green Digital Action.

Effective e-waste regulation

Many in the industry acknowledge the need for extended producer responsibility (EPR), whereby electronics producers bear the responsibility for the environmental impact of the products they sell. This approach compels companies to take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from production to disposal.

The Government of Dominican Republic recently adopted an EPR-based approach with support from ITU. The regulation issued on 11 October clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of electronics producers, retailers, large consumers, and waste managers.

Going forward, ITU will work closely with the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi Arabia to promote effective e-waste regulation worldwide. Their joint project – first announced at ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-23) in June – will help developing countries prepare EPR-based regulations for e-waste.

“We envision a future where technology acts as a catalyst for positive impact,” says CST’s Assistant Deputy Governor for Planning and Development, Naif Abdulhakeem Sheshah. “This means fostering innovation and nurturing a planet where sustainability is at the core of our digital journey.”

Paraguay, Rwanda, and Zambia are the project’s first beneficiaries.

“Rwanda is pleased to work towards an effective, efficient, and inclusive EPR system for e-waste management in collaboration with CST and ITU,” says Beatrice Cyiza, Director General for Environment and Climate Change at the country’s Ministry of Environment. “This project will propel Rwanda towards a regulated system of EPR for the e-waste stream, where electronics producers play a significant role.”

The project, launched on 6 December at COP28, will also work closely with local electronics producers to build circular value chains and set the transition to a circular electronics economy in motion.

This is the latest example of ITU’s engagement in support of e-waste reduction. In another ongoing case, the organization collaborates with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations University Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) programme to produce global, regional, and national E-Waste Monitor reports.

“The transition to a circular economy for electronics is key to reduce our sector’s environmental footprint, including climate impact,” says ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas. “Strong e-waste regulation provides the foundation, shaped by governments and industry working hand in hand.”

Closing today’s e-waste loop

At the core of the global e-waste challenge is the prevailing linear “take-make-dispose” model.

But even as digital devices end up as e-waste, digital systems can streamline production and track materials through any product life cycle. They can enhance energy efficiency, help shape efficient networks, and expedite the transition to circular electronics economies.

ITU and its partners in Green Digital Action envision a future where digital devices, rather than becoming an environmental hazard, are reintegrated smoothly into the next production cycle.

“Together, through impactful legislation, we look forward to fostering a circular economy for electronics that benefits our citizens and our planet,” says Collins Mbulo, Director of Engineering and Technical Services at the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority. “As Zambia embarks on the path towards sustainable e-waste management, we welcome the support from CST and ITU to develop and implement effective e-waste policy, ensuring a responsible and environmentally conscious approach to technological progress.”

Cutting our material losses

Discarded equipment includes valuable materials such as gold, copper, and critical raw materials, only a fraction of which are recovered. Boosting collection and recycling rates globally would reduce industrial pollution lessen the need for constant mining.

“Besides reducing our sector’s footprint, we need to put already extracted materials back in to use,” says Lamanauskas, adding: “ITU and CST are working with developing countries to make this happen.” 

Out of an estimated USD 57 billion in gold, silver, copper, platinum, and other potentially recoverable materials from e-waste, only USD 10 billion is currently retained through collection and recycling.

Public-sector organizations shopping for information and communication technologies (ICTs) can refer to ITU’s guidelines for Circular and sustainable public procurement.The guide follows the ITU standard L.1061 to minimize e-waste, maximize energy efficiency, extend equipment life, and ensure recyclability.

COP28 objectives

At the UN climate conference, Green Digital Action partners aim to:

• Raise awareness about the role of regulation and public procurement guidelines in reducing e-waste and emissions alike.
• Foster collaboration between governments and the tech industry, highlighting how circularity and sustainability make good policy and business sense.
• Showcase the ITU-CST initiative as a key first step towards building a circular economy for electronics at national, regional, and global levels.

Tackling e-waste is just one pillar of Green Digital Action. Other discussions focus on standards for environmental sustainability, the ICT sector’s own emissions, and how sustainable digital solutions can enable economy-wide emissions reduction.

Green Digital Action sessions at COP28 call for commitments to reduce the sector’s footprint, leverage digital technologies to ensure life-saving disaster alerts, and facilitate climate solutions across all industries. The aim is to build critical mass action for effective climate action across the industry.

Do you support these commitments?

Learn more about Green Digital Action at COP28.

Check out ITU’s e-waste and circular economy standards (L.1000-L.1199 series), available to download free of charge. 

Header image (ITU-CST e-waste session, 6 December 2023, at COP28: ITU/J. Mallari

GSR-23 image: ITU/D. Woldu