China plans national e-waste centre

Construction of a national e-waste recycling centre will begin this year in the Chinese city of Tianjin. The Ziya Environmental Protection Industry Park, which was opened in 2001, will be expanded to handle an estimated 15 million used electrical appliances by 2010.
At present, Tianjin annually discards some 100 000 refrigerators, 160 000 televisions, 110 000 washing machines and 100 000 computer and mobile phones, as well as even higher numbers of small home appliances. However, only around one sixth of these used goods are thrown away as waste.
Tianjin’s officials estimate that, over the next five years, the volume of discarded computers and associated items will increase by 25% to 30% per annum.