Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Current status and research on E-waste issues in Asia

  • SPECIAL FEATURE: REVIEW ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rapid economic growth in Asia and the increasing transboundary movement of secondary resources will increasingly require both 3R endeavors (reduce, reuse, recycle) in each country and appropriate control of international material cycles. Recently, managing electrical and electronic waste (E-waste) has become an important target for domestic and international material cycles from the viewpoints of environmental preservation and resource utilization efficiency. To understand the current status of E-waste issues in the context of international material cycles and to discuss the future tasks related to achieving 3R in the region, we organized the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) E-waste Workshop in December 2004. This article reviews past studies on E-waste and briefly describes the topics presented and discussions held at the workshop. The topics at the workshop included E-waste generation, recycling systems, international trade, and environmental impacts. In addition, we discussed various issues such as terminology, current environmental concerns, and possible solutions. Transboundary shipments of E-waste should be conducted taking into consideration the concept of sustainable development. The direction of future research and possible collaborations are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T Matsuto CH Jung N Tanaka (2004) ArticleTitleMaterial and heavy metal balance in a recycling facility for home electrical appliances Waste Manag 24 425–436 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.wasman.2003.12.002 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjs1eqsbg%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A Terazono A Yoshida Y Yang Y Moriguchi S Sakai (2004) ArticleTitleMaterial cycles in Asia: especially the recycling loop between Japan and China J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 6 82–96

    Google Scholar 

  3. ALN Stevels AA Ram E Deckers (1999) ArticleTitleTake-back of discarded consumer electronic products from the perspective of the producer: Condition for success J Cleaner Prod 7 383–389 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0959-6526(99)00152-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. M Macauley K Palmer JS Shih (2003) ArticleTitleDealing with electronic waste: modeling the costs and environmental benefits of computer monitor disposal J Environ Manag 68 13–22

    Google Scholar 

  5. BAN, SVTC (2002) Exporting harm: the high-tech trashing of Asia. The Basel Action Network (BAN) and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC), http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/technotrash.pdf pp 51

  6. H Alter (2000) ArticleTitleEnvironmentally sound management of the recycling of hazardous wastes in the context of the Basel Convention Resour Conserv Recycl 29 111–129 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0921-3449(99)00061-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sakai S (2004) E-waste recycling and chemical issues in Japan. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  8. InstitutionalAuthorNameAnon (2002) ArticleTitleEU government to enforce E-waste recycling: new rules make producers pay Waste Age 33 IssueID12 14

    Google Scholar 

  9. N Johnstone (1998) ArticleTitleThe implications of the Basel Convention for developing countries: the case of trade in nonferrous metal-bearing waste Resour Conserv Recycl 23 1–28 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0921-3449(98)00002-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Anon (2005) Asia: waste not, want not? Recycling in Asia sized up by Japan. International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shinbun, February 12

  11. Bo Q, Lin P, Xijin X, Xinsheng L, Jidan H, Xia H (2005) Medical investigation of E-waste demanufacturing industry in Guiyu Town. Presented at the International Conference on Electric Waste and Producer's Environmental Responsibilities in China, April 21–22, 2004, Beijing, China

  12. Eugster M (2004) Knowledge partnership with developing and transition countries in E-waste recycling. Presented at the International Conference on Electric Waste and Producer's Environmental Responsibilities in China, April 21–22, 2004, Beijing, China

  13. Williams E (2004) International activities on E-waste and guidelines for future work. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  14. EMPA (2005) International E-waste generation. http://www.ewaste.ch/facts_and_figures/statistical/quantities/

  15. Peralta GL, Fontanos PM (2004) E-waste issues and measures in the Philippines. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  16. Matthews H, McMichael F, Hendrickson C, Hart D (1997) Disposition and end-of-life options for personal computers. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. Design Initiative Technical Report #97-10

  17. Yang JX, Xu C, Liu XL (2004) E-waste issues and measures in China. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  18. Jain A, Sareen R (2004) E-waste in India: assessment, validation and future implications. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  19. T Tasaki M Oguchi T Kameya K Urano (2001) ArticleTitleEstimation of end-of-life durable products (in Japanese) J Jpn Soc Waste Manag Expert 12 IssueID2 49–58 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjtVGrtLg%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. InstitutionalAuthorNameJapan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) (2005) Report on the recovery, treatment and recycling of IT equipment JEITA Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  21. Terazono A (2004) International material cycles and E-waste in Asia. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  22. Kim IS (2004) E-waste issues and measures in Korea. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  23. Lin CC, Lin CH (2004) The E-waste status and management structure in Taiwan. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  24. Li J, Honda SI, Liu TZ (2004) Survey and analysis on the management of electronic and electric wastes in typical countries of Asia. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  25. Mungcharoen T (2004) Current status and issues of E-waste recycling in Thailand. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  26. Yoshida A, Aramaki T, Hanaki K (2004) E-waste recycling in China – can the new formal sector beat the informal sector? In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  27. Kojima M, Yoshida A (2004) International recycling of E-waste in Asian countries. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES_E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  28. Leung A, Cai ZW, Wong MH (2004) Environmental contamination from electronic-waste recycling at Guiyu, Southeast China. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  29. Inanc B (2004) Landfill/dump sites as pollution sources in Asia. In: Proceedings of The Third Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asia (NIES E-waste Workshop), December 14–15, NIES, Tsukuba, Japan

  30. H Takatsuki (2003) ArticleTitleThe Teshima Island industrial waste case and its process towards resolution J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 5 26–30 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s101630300005 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjt1ynsbw%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kojima M (2002) Pollution prevention measurements by small- and medium-sized enterprises and informal sectors. In: Terao T, Ohtsuka K (eds) Policy process and dynamism of “Development and Environment.” IDE/JETRO, Chiba, Japan

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan

    Atsushi Terazono, Shinsuke Murakami, Naoya Abe, Bulent Inanc & Yuichi Moriguchi

  2. Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Shin-ichi Sakai

  3. Institute of Developing Economies, JETRO, Chiba, Japan

    Michikazu Kojima

  4. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Aya Yoshida

  5. Tsinghua University and Basel Convention Regional Center China, Beijing, China

    Jinhui Li

  6. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jianxin Yang

  7. Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Ming H. Wong

  8. IRG Systems South Asia Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, India

    Amit Jain

  9. LG Environmental Strategy Institute, Seoul, Korea

    In-Suk Kim

  10. University of the Philippines, Diliman, The Philippines

    Genandrialine L. Peralta

  11. Institute of Environment and Resources, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chun-Chao Lin

  12. Kasetsart University and National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Bangkok, Thailand

    Thumrongrut Mungcharoen

  13. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Eric Williams

Authors
  1. Atsushi Terazono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shinsuke Murakami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Naoya Abe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bulent Inanc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yuichi Moriguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Shin-ichi Sakai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Michikazu Kojima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Aya Yoshida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jinhui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jianxin Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Ming H. Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Amit Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. In-Suk Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Genandrialine L. Peralta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Chun-Chao Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Thumrongrut Mungcharoen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Eric Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atsushi Terazono.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Terazono, A., Murakami, S., Abe, N. et al. Current status and research on E-waste issues in Asia. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 8, 1–12 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-005-0147-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-005-0147-0

Key words

Search

Navigation