MoreThanWaste.com - UNEP Nairobi conference addresses electronic waste (28/11/2006)

Achim Steiner,
Chief Exec., UNEP

The Nairobi Conference on the Basel Convention will be attended by around 120 governments from 27 November to 1 December with the intention of finding solutions to the world’s rising quantities of hazardous wastes and in particular electronic wastes.

Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner said

“Like the climate change treaties, the Basel Convention promotes clean technologies and processes that minimize unwanted by-products. It provides the tools and incentives we need to both empower and motivate the producers and consumers of goods that generate hazardous wastes to pursue innovative solutions. In this way the Convention also advances sustainable development and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals,” he said.

The Conference will convene a high-level “World Forum on E-Wastes”. The Forum will confront the growing reality that, in addition to its many benefits, the global consumer goods revolution is generating massive quantities of end-of-life computers and other obsolete electronic equipment.

PCs

Around 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide each year which makes up more than 5% of all municipal solid waste. Many millions of computers are purchased around the world every year, there was an estimated 183 million in 2004 alone, and when discarded this results in a legacy of lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous wastes.

In the US alone, some 14 to 20 million PCs are thrown out every year. In the EU the volume of e-waste is expected to increase by 3 to 5 per cent a year. Developing countries are expected to triple their output of e-waste by 2010.

Mobile phones

By 2008 the number of mobile phone users around the world is expected to reach some 2 billion. Leading cell phone manufacturers are collaborating through the Basel Convention’s Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative and through which, leading phone manufacturers are finding better ways to reduce and manage this growing waste stream.

Illegal waste trading

"As the recent tragedy in Côte d’Ivoire reminds us, hazardous wastes continue to pose serious risks for human health and the environment"

Executive Director
Achim Steiner

Lessons learned from improvement of the management of e-wastes may also be applied to other discarded consumer goods and end-of-life equipment, such as batteries, automobiles and ships. 'The key to success will be the creation of a global framework for managing wastes that renders waste flows transparent, predictable and traceable, while reflecting the specific attributes of each waste stream', according to UNEP. This would also help to tackle the growing challenge of illegal trade.

A 2005 report by the European Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) found that illegal trading in wastes is on the rise. A joint enforcement operation carried out in 17 European seaports examined 3,000 shipping documents and physically inspected 258 cargo holds. This operation found that 140 were waste shipments, of which 68 (48%) turned out to be illegal.

End of life ships

Another agenda item concerns the dismantling of obsolete ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has commenced negotiations on a binding agreement that would clarify the legal requirements for scrapping obsolete ships. Governments, however, recognise that the Basel Convention also has a clear role to play in this issue.

This problem has been given substantial publicity in the UK when a Teesside company imported American obsolete war ships for dismantling. Due to problems in acquiring planning permission, the ships have been berthed near Hartlepool for a number of years. These have become known as the "Ghost Ships".

The Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 under the auspices of the UNEP. However the recent tragedy in the Ivory Coast is a reminder that hazardous wastes continue to pose serious problems to both human health and the environment.

The Convention draws on the principles of the “environmentally sound management” of wastes and the “integrated life-cycle approach” to industrial production. It sets out incentives and tools for minimizing the generation of wastes, treating wastes as near as possible to where they were generated, and minimizing international movements of hazardous wastes. Reducing wastes at source will reduce the financial incentives that drive the illegal dumping that inspired the Convention’s adoption 17 years ago.

UNEP

UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.


	UNEP Nairobi conference addresses electronic waste (28/11/2006) Achim Steiner, Chief Exec., UNEP The Nairobi Conference on the Basel Convention will be attended by around 120 governments from 27 November to 1 December with the intention of finding solutions to the world’s rising quantities of hazardous wastes and in particular electronic wastes. Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner said “Like the climate change treaties, the Basel Convention promotes clean technologies and processes that minimize unwanted by-products. It provides the tools and incentives we need to both empower and motivate the producers and consumers of goods that generate hazardous wastes to pursue innovative solutions. In this way the Convention also advances sustainable development and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals,” he said. The Conference will convene a high-level “World Forum on E-Wastes”. The Forum will confront the growing reality that, in addition to its many benefits, the global consumer goods revolution is generating massive quantities of end-of-life computers and other obsolete electronic equipment. PCs Around 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide each year which makes up more than 5% of all municipal solid waste. Many millions of computers are purchased around the world every year, there was an estimated 183 million in 2004 alone, and when discarded this results in a legacy of lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous wastes. In the US alone, some 14 to 20 million PCs are thrown out every year. In the EU the volume of e-waste is expected to increase by 3 to 5 per cent a year. Developing countries are expected to triple their output of e-waste by 2010. Mobile phones By 2008 the number of mobile phone users around the world is expected to reach some 2 billion. Leading cell phone manufacturers are collaborating through the Basel Convention’s Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative and through which, leading phone manufacturers are finding better ways to reduce and manage this growing waste stream. Illegal waste trading "As the recent tragedy in Côte d’Ivoire reminds us, hazardous wastes continue to pose serious risks for human health and the environment" Executive Director Achim Steiner Lessons learned from improvement of the management of e-wastes may also be applied to other discarded consumer goods and end-of-life equipment, such as batteries, automobiles and ships. 'The key to success will be the creation of a global framework for managing wastes that renders waste flows transparent, predictable and traceable, while reflecting the specific attributes of each waste stream', according to UNEP. This would also help to tackle the growing challenge of illegal trade. A 2005 report by the European Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) found that illegal trading in wastes is on the rise. A joint enforcement operation carried out in 17 European seaports examined 3,000 shipping documents and physically inspected 258 cargo holds. This operation found that 140 were waste shipments, of which 68 (48%) turned out to be illegal. End of life ships Another agenda item concerns the dismantling of obsolete ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has commenced negotiations on a binding agreement that would clarify the legal requirements for scrapping obsolete ships. Governments, however, recognise that the Basel Convention also has a clear role to play in this issue. This problem has been given substantial publicity in the UK when a Teesside company imported American obsolete war ships for dismantling. Due to problems in acquiring planning permission, the ships have been berthed near Hartlepool for a number of years. These have become known as the "Ghost Ships". The Basel Convention The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in 1989 under the auspices of the UNEP. However the recent tragedy in the Ivory Coast is a reminder that hazardous wastes continue to pose serious problems to both human health and the environment. The Convention draws on the principles of the “environmentally sound management” of wastes and the “integrated life-cycle approach” to industrial production. It sets out incentives and tools for minimizing the generation of wastes, treating wastes as near as possible to where they were generated, and minimizing international movements of hazardous wastes. Reducing wastes at source will reduce the financial incentives that drive the illegal dumping that inspired the Convention’s adoption 17 years ago. UNEP UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society.