Jump to main content or area navigation.

Contact Us

International Programs

Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

New Report on Global Movement of Used Electronics

There is much concern and interest about the global movement of used electronics. However, too little data exists because of challenges in gathering information.

To address the e-waste challenge, a deeper understanding of the sources, destinations, and quantities of used electronics is needed. Collaboration -- between academic and research institutions, industry and non-profit organizations, government agencies, and international organizations -- can help address this challenge.

blank

In June 2011, UN University-StEP and MIT hosted a workshop at EPA, bringing stakeholders together to assess existing information and chart a path forward. This is a first step toward a comprehensive understanding of global movement of used electronics.

The new summary report from the workshop, Characterizing Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics, lays out options for future data-gathering efforts, which will be used to identify next steps.

View the Report
Exit EPA disclaimer


From computers and cell phones, to portable communication and music devices -- the United States of America is a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies. With this vibrant innovation, however, comes the increasing challenge of protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of poorly managed manufacturing, use, recovery, recycling and disposal of these products.

When electronics are discarded in the United States, too often either they end up in landfills, or are exported to developing countries. Current U.S. laws and regulations are limited in their ability to prevent harmful exports of used electronics to developing countries. In some countries, used electronics are dismantled unsafely in order to recover valuable materials – in ways that cause significant harm to human health and the environment.

While EPA continues to build upon its domestic efforts of improving management of discarded used electronics, EPA’s international efforts focus on addressing the problems caused when used electronics are exported to developing countries that lack the capacity to manage them safely, causing human health and environmental impacts amongst workers and communities.

EPA collaborates with the United Nations University - Solving the E-waste Problem Initiative (UNU-StEP) Exit EPA disclaimer to jointly address the e-waste problem in developing countries. EPA and StEP signed a cooperative agreement on this topic in November 2010. EPA and StEP are working collaboratively on tracking global flows of e-waste, strengthening Ethiopia's efforts to manage e-waste and engaging with China on e-waste management practices. EPA is a founding member of StEP and serves on the StEP Steering Committee.

Recent and Upcoming Events

What is E-Waste?

Used electronics are shipped frequently from the United States and other developed countries to developing countries that lack the capacity to reject imports or to appropriately handle materials. Even in instances where materials are sent to countries where legitimate processing facilities exist, mishandling still occurs and can negatively impact people and communities.

blank

Though some facilities exist, it is very common that the electonics are taken to informal e-waste collection sites or to individual households, where they are taken apart by hand to obtain valuable materials, including copper, silver, and gold. In these situations, workers are exposed to high levels of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Exposure to these contaminants can lead to irreversible health effects, including cancers, miscarriages, neurological damage and diminished IQs.

EPA estimates that, in 2007, US consumers and businesses discarded televisions, computers, cell phones and hard copy peripherals (including printers, scanners, faxes) totaling 2.25 million tons. Approximately 18 percent of these electronics were collected for recycling, with the remainder disposed of primarily in landfills, where the precious metals cannot be recovered and hazardous substances can leach into the ground and contaminate soil and water.

EPA’s International E-Waste Efforts

To address the e-waste issue, EPA is developing an integrated program that will provide tools and potential solutions at various points in the process to reduce environmental and health risks. This complements a larger US government task force, co-chaired by EPA, The General Services Administration and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which has developed a national strategy for responsible electronic stewardship.

EPA’s international efforts include:


Understanding the Problem

Currently, there is a lack of basic data information on US exports shipments of electronics from the U.S. to other countries. Information about where the waste is going, to whom does it go, and in what quantities will move us closer to understanding the extent of the problem, along with ensuring that solutions are targeted appropriately.

Through EPA’s recent cooperation with UNU-StEP, a workshop was held in June 2011 in Washington, DC that brought together key NGO, industry and academia. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Center for Electronics Recycling hosted the workshop entitled “Characterizing the Transboundary Flows of Used Electronics” that kicked off EPA’s efforts to improve data on e-waste flows.

This effort complements another effort in which EPA is involved, a scoping study through the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) that is aimed at identifying flows of electronics from North America. This study involves assessing and mapping flows of electronics, including those exported from the U.S. for recycling, reuse, and refurbishment.

Building Capacity of Developing Countries to Stop Illegal Imports

West Africa is increasingly becoming a destination for used electronics, with little capacity to safely manage what legally or illegally enters the countries, as well as recycling the electronics that are being used within their borders once they reach the end of their useful life.

Through the UNU-StEP cooperation, EPA will initially work in Ethiopia with government officials, as well as industry and NGO stakeholders, to develop a plan for sustainability of a demanufacturing facility that can safely recycle end-of-life used electronics. Other efforts in Africa include strengthening efforts to improve information on the e-waste flows.

Additional capacity building will involve training local enforcement and customs officials, to develop a network of enforcement/customs officials in West Africa who will share information on illegal shipments to prevent port-hopping, and enhance regional cooperation overall.


Best Practices to Manage Electronics in Developing Countries

Asia: In Asia, the informal sector plays a strong role in the handling of used electronics, for recycling, reuse or refurbishment, with detrimental environmental and health effects from the processing of these materials. EPA is working with the Taiwan environmental agency (EPAT) to document best practices for recycling used electronics that can be shared with other countries.

China: Both China and the United States are major manufacturers and consumers of electronics. During meetings in Washington in 2010, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and China’s Minister of Environment Shengxian Zhou agreed to collaborate on electronics management. Recognizing the role of these two major economies in the global electronics market, EPA will work with China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) on areas of mutual interest, including sustainable management of used electronics and e-waste. In May 2011, EPA led a Breakout Session on Electronics Stewardship at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. At this Session, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) expressed its desire to cooperate with USEPA in multiple areas related to used electronics.

EPA and MEP will also co-convene an “E-waste Experts’ Stakeholder Consortium”, bringing together MEP and other agencies and research institutes with e-waste management responsibilities to learn what each group is doing to address the e-waste problem, support inter-agency coordination, and identify synergies and gaps. This workshop will build on an International Electronics Management Dialogue, held in Taiwan in June 2011, where countries representing many regions of the world shared experiences and issues related to electronics management.

Multilateral Cooperation

In addition to country-specific capacity building, EPA engages in longer-term multilateral cooperation with key international organizations to address the export of used electronics from one country to another and its ramifications.

Basel Convention and the Basel Secretariat: Although the U.S. is not party to the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste, Exit EPA disclaimer EPA continues to be engaged in Basel activities, including the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE), Exit EPA disclaimer which provides capacity-building to developing countries on used electronics and e-waste issues and a variety of capacity-building programs, including programs in West Africa (PDF). Exit EPA disclaimer

Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP): StEP, Exit EPA disclaimer part of the UN University, is a multi-stakeholder initiative to better understand and "solve" the global problem of e-waste. EPA is a partner in StEP and is currently chair of the Steering Group.

Interpol: Interpol Exit EPA disclaimer is an international police force, with 188 member countries. Interpol has established a Global E-Waste Crime Group to develop a multi-national enforcement strategy to control the illegal trade of e-waste Exit EPA disclaimer and EPA is a partner in that group. In May, 2010, Interpol held a meeting of the Global E-Waste Crimes Group Exit EPA disclaimer in Alexandria, VA, co-hosted by EPA.

INECE: The International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) Exit EPA disclaimer is a global environmental enforcement and complliance network. EPA has been involved in INECE since its inception. For more information on INECE, see:

North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC): EPA also played a role in the CEC's February 2011 workshop on environmentally sound management practices for the recycling and refurbishing of e-waste. The workshop explored environmental, economic and social benefits from the adoption of environmentally sound management practices by small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, Mexico and the United States; and sought to identify opportunities and options to jointly face the challenges posed by the large increase in the volume of e-waste in the NAFTA region.

Additional Links

You can learn more about EPA's work on e-waste at the following links:

Back to: International Priorities - Electronics Waste

Contacts

For additional information on EPA's international work on e-waste, contact:

Stephanie Adrian
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2670R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: adrian.stephanie@epa.gov
(202) 564-6444

Jump to main content.