93
In this sense, according to the literature (Finlay and Liechti 2008; Widmer et al.
2005), some recommendations are suggested, investment in technology and skills,
strengthening of adequate policies and legislation and E-waste management that
ensures adherence by all stakeholders, as well as incentives in business and finance.
5.4.1.3 Asian Countries
Asian countries are adopting rudimentary management practices to deal with the
high amounts of E-waste generated by domestic production or imported from
industrialized countries (Herat and Agamuthu 2012). India, China, the Philippines,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam and
Nigeria are favourite destinations for E-waste. Herat and Agamuthu (2012) state
that the operations in these countries are well documented evidencing that recovery
practices are causing significant environmental and health impacts. They exemplify
the significant amounts of E-waste containing hazardous materials can be seen
dumped in open land and waterways.
According to Baldé et al. (2017), Western Asia generates 2 metric tonnes of
E-waste. Constituted by high- and middle-income countries, this subregion has
three countries with national E-waste legislation (Cyprus, Israel and Turkey). In this
area, only 6% of E-waste is reported to be collected and recycled, mainly by Turkey.
These authors indicate that other countries or private companies are supporting
E-waste recycling. A facility is being built to process 39 kilotonnes of electronicwaste annually.
Firms in Malaysia should be pressured to improve reverse logistics into their
operations to comply with legislation or directives introduced by foreign countries.
However, this pressure was not enough to motivate manufacturers to invest in
reverse logistics, due to the low level of adoption (Abdullah and Yaakub 2015).
China
China is widely known for its huge E-waste generation (Baldé et al. 2017) and
E-waste management through informal treatment sites (Tang et al. 2015). Habuer
et al. (2014) emphasize the negative potential impact in environment and health
from E-waste management in China and the pressure for material recovering from
E-waste as an alternative for natural resources shortage through urban mining
techniques implementation.
According to Wang et al. (2013), China is one of the top destinations of E-waste
imported from various parts of the world in the form of post-consumer products.
Although this procedure is restricted by the 1989 Basel Convention, significant
volumes of E-waste are processed in China. This is the case observed in the Chinese
Guiyu area, where there are reports of high exposure of residents, including children,
to toxic agents (Wong et al. 2007; Liu et al. 2018).
Some structural constraints in China contribute to the perpetuation of primitive
E-waste processing, such as cheap workforce availability, a huge population and not
strict environmental regulation (Habuer et al. 2014). Eugster and Fu (2004) state
5 Recycling Challenges for Electronic Consumer Products to E-Waste: A Developing…
In this sense, according to the literature (Finlay and Liechti 2008; Widmer et al.
2005), some recommendations are suggested, investment in technology and skills,
strengthening of adequate policies and legislation and E-waste management that
ensures adherence by all stakeholders, as well as incentives in business and finance.
5.4.1.3 Asian Countries
Asian countries are adopting rudimentary management practices to deal with the
high amounts of E-waste generated by domestic production or imported from
industrialized countries (Herat and Agamuthu 2012). India, China, the Philippines,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam and
Nigeria are favourite destinations for E-waste. Herat and Agamuthu (2012) state
that the operations in these countries are well documented evidencing that recovery
practices are causing significant environmental and health impacts. They exemplify
the significant amounts of E-waste containing hazardous materials can be seen
dumped in open land and waterways.
According to Baldé et al. (2017), Western Asia generates 2 metric tonnes of
E-waste. Constituted by high- and middle-income countries, this subregion has
three countries with national E-waste legislation (Cyprus, Israel and Turkey). In this
area, only 6% of E-waste is reported to be collected and recycled, mainly by Turkey.
These authors indicate that other countries or private companies are supporting
E-waste recycling. A facility is being built to process 39 kilotonnes of electronicwaste annually.
Firms in Malaysia should be pressured to improve reverse logistics into their
operations to comply with legislation or directives introduced by foreign countries.
However, this pressure was not enough to motivate manufacturers to invest in
reverse logistics, due to the low level of adoption (Abdullah and Yaakub 2015).
China
China is widely known for its huge E-waste generation (Baldé et al. 2017) and
E-waste management through informal treatment sites (Tang et al. 2015). Habuer
et al. (2014) emphasize the negative potential impact in environment and health
from E-waste management in China and the pressure for material recovering from
E-waste as an alternative for natural resources shortage through urban mining
techniques implementation.
According to Wang et al. (2013), China is one of the top destinations of E-waste
imported from various parts of the world in the form of post-consumer products.
Although this procedure is restricted by the 1989 Basel Convention, significant
volumes of E-waste are processed in China. This is the case observed in the Chinese
Guiyu area, where there are reports of high exposure of residents, including children,
to toxic agents (Wong et al. 2007; Liu et al. 2018).
Some structural constraints in China contribute to the perpetuation of primitive
E-waste processing, such as cheap workforce availability, a huge population and not
strict environmental regulation (Habuer et al. 2014). Eugster and Fu (2004) state
5 Recycling Challenges for Electronic Consumer Products to E-Waste: A Developing…