Controlling Transboundary Movement of Waste Electrica and Electronic Equipment by Developing International Standards

摘要

Illegal transboundary movement of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has resulted in significantnenvironmental pollution in both developing and developed countries. Applicable laws and regulations on thenimport and management of used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE) and WEEE in 11 selected Asianncountries or regions were investigated and assessed within the framework of the Basel Convention Partnershipnon the Environmental SoundManagement of Electrical and ElectronicWastes for theAsia Pacific Region, to providenguidance on UEEE and WEEE identification, and to help control environmentally unsound treatment practicesnat the regional level. Although in principle, all participating countries or regions prohibit the import of WEEE,nseveral countries or regions do allow the import of UEEE for the purposes of reuse and=or recycling. Criteria forndistinguishing new EEE from UEEE, WEEE from UEEE, and hazardous WEEE from nonhazardous WEEE, inneach country or region were also assessed. It was found that most of the countries or regions have no specificnidentification rules or standards governingWEEE and UEEE for the purpose of controlling import. Developmentnof consistent standards regarding these issues could help to curtail the illegal transboundary movement andnprocessing of such waste.