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E-Waste Management in Developing Countries – with a focus on Africa

E-Waste Management in Developing Countries – with a focus on Africa. Dr. Mathias Schluep (Empa) E-Waste Management Forum, “Green Business Opportunities” (E-waste 2010), 23-24 November 2010, Marrakech, Morocco. Empa.

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E-Waste Management in Developing Countries – with a focus on Africa

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  1. E-Waste Management in Developing Countries – with a focus on Africa Dr. Mathias Schluep (Empa) E-Waste Management Forum, “Green Business Opportunities” (E-waste 2010), 23-24 November 2010, Marrakech, Morocco

  2. Empa • Since 20 years Empa assists e-waste management systems in Switzerland and abroad (e-Waste Team 8 / 800): • Audits and R&D for Swiss system operators SENS, SWICO, (SLRS & INOBAT) • represents Switzerland in the European WEEE Forum • founding member StEP-Initiative • Managing e-waste projects in e.g. China, India, South Africa, Peru, Colombia, Morocco, West- East Africa etc. • Current e-waste research topics • flame retardants in plastics • no-emission recycling for LCD-displays • modelling of long term stocks and flows (crt-glass etc.) • recycling business models for informal sector • compare eco efficiency in recycling strategies • ... © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  3. SECO Empa’s recent and current activities in Africa Morocco e-Waste Management in Africa Assessment Study Feasibility Study Funding Agency: HP, GTZ Project Partner: DSF, CMPP Time Frame: 2007 - ? Uganda & Tanzania: Refurbishment Centre Initiative Assessment Study Funding Agency: Unido, Microsoft Project Partner: UCPC, CPCT Time Frame: 2007 - 2010 Kenya: e-Waste Management in Africa Assessment Study Funding Agency: HP Project Partner: DSF, KICTANeT Time Frame: 2007 - 2008 Senegal e-Waste Management in Africa Assessment Study Funding Agency: DSF Project Partner: SENECLIC Time Frame: 2007 - 2008 South Africa: Swiss e-Waste Programme Facilitating the development of a nationale-waste management strategy Funding Agency: SECO Project Partner: ITA, EWASA Time Frame: 2003 – 2009 e-Waste Management in Africa Launching an e-waste recycling unit in Cape Town Funding Agency: HP Project Partner: DSF, Recover-e-Alliance, Envirosense Time Frame: 2007 - 2008 Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria: The Basel Convention e-Waste Africa Project Assessment Study Training Pilot Funding Agency: SBC, EU Project Partner: African BCRCs, IMPEL, Öko-Institut Time Frame: 2009-2011 © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  4. Content © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010 What is the quantitative relevance of e-waste in Africa? Do we need the informal sector? What is a profitable e-waste recycling business?

  5. PC penetration in Africa compared to the world • In 2005 Africa generated approx. 2% of the worlds PC waste Presented at R’09: Mueller E., Schluep M. et al.(2009). Assessment of e-waste flows: a probabilistic approach to quantify e-waste based on world ICT and development indicators. R’09 Twin World Congress, Davos/ Switzerland and Nagoya/ Japan, 14-16 September . © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  6. Future massflow trends for Tanzania until 2015 9500 tonnesof computerwaste DRAFT RESULTS 3000 tonnesof computerwaste © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  7. Simplified massbalance Ghanaall of (W)EEE (cat. 1-4) Recycling DRAFT RESULTS Burning © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  8. Informality vs. formality • Without proper measures in African countries it is likely that informal activities will increase To be avoided © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  9. «Best» practices seen in Europe, Asia and Africa Collection System Switzerland India South Africa Recycling Technology Switzerland China / India South Africa © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  10. Recycling chain Example: 50% x 90% x 80% x 95% = 34% Batteries, circuit boards, … Recycle metals Collection Dis-mantling Pre-processing Materials recovery reuse Separated components & fractions final waste © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010 Total efficiency determined by weakest step in the chain Consider entire chain & its interdependences Mass flows  flows of precious metals interface optimisation, economies of scale, specialisation

  11. Gold recycling efficiency “Here” and “There” „Here“ 80 % x 50 % x 50 % = 20 % Collection dismantling/pre-processing metals recovery „There“ 50 % x 25 % x 95 % = 12 % In the bottom line „the West“ is often not doing better! © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  12. Estimation of dioxin emissions from cable burning in the greater Accra region • ~1000 tonnes / year burnt cables in Greater Accra Region • Thereof is ~38% plastic = 400 tonnes / year • Thereof is ~62% copper = 600 tonnes / year • Preliminary estimation of total dioxin (PCDD/F) emissions to air from open cable burning in the Greater Accra Region: • Source Strength = ~5 g / year • Compared with the European dioxin air emission inventory for 2005 (EU15 + Norway + Switzerland, Quass et al. 2004) this equals to: • 0.25 – 0.5 % of total dioxin emissions • 2.5 – 5 % of dioxin emissions from municipal waste incineration • 15 – 25 % of dioxin emissions from industrial waste incineration Ref: Quass et al. 2004: The European dioxin air emission inventory project – final results. Chemosphere 54, 1319–1327. © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  13. More than technology is needed • Having found the right e-waste recycling technologies doesn’t necessarily mean that an operation can be paid by the sales of recycling output fractions or materials. • A self-sufficient (profitable) recycling business can have two income sources: • Intrinsic value of the recycling output fractions or materials; • The “polluter” who pays for the proper recycling and disposal of his waste. • Sustainable recycling of e-waste will always demand for a proper managed framework and a financing scheme. © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010

  14. On what depends a WEEE recycling system? Collection strategy Transport distance Recycling system Administration Appliance design PR Salaries Collection Refining efficiency Commodity prices Commodity prices Pre-Processing Consumer awareness End-Processing Monitoring WEEE scope WEEE scope Legal framework andmanyfactorsmore… © Empa/Switzerland, 24Nov. 2010

  15. Commodity Prices * Break-even © Empa/Switzerland, 24Nov. 2010 * Commoditiy set for model: Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Cu, Fe, Al

  16. WEEE Scope Mobile Phones PCs & Printer Break-even All 4 Appliances TVs © Empa/Switzerland, 24Nov. 2010

  17. Conclusion © Empa/Switzerland, 24 November 2010 E-Waste volumes in African countries seem to be still low, however are relevant regarding environmental and socio-economic impacts and are increasing steadily. The informal sector can be highly efficient in the initial stages of the recycling chain, but looses valuable resources and are associated with adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts in the final stages. When including the informal sector, the formalization processes needs to be the main objective. A profitable (self-sufficient, sustainable, …) recycling business demands for a a proper managed framework and a financing scheme, which enables to solve the problem comprehensively (e.g. all e-waste categories) and react on changing conditions (e.g. cost factors)

  18. Thank you • Dr. Mathias SchluepEmpaLerchenfeldstrasse 59014 St.Gallen • SWITZERLANDmathias.schluep@empa.ch • Technology & Society Lab:www.empa.ch/tsl • Swiss e-WastProgramme:www.ewasteguide.info • Swiss e-Waste Competencewww.e-waste.ch © Empa/Switzerland, 3 November 2010

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