Malaysia introducing e-waste programme

Archiv – Malaysia | The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) and the country’s Department of Environment (DoE) have installed more than 400 e-waste collection points in government agencies and offices, as well as in residential areas and on university campuses. The DoE is also finalising a framework for a uniform e-waste management programme involving members of the information and communications technology industry and the general public.Malaysia | The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom) and the country’s Department of Environment (DoE) have installed more than 400 e-waste collection points in government agencies and offices, as well as in residential areas and on university campuses. The DoE is also finalising a framework for a uniform e-waste management programme involving members of the information and communications technology industry and the general public.
Pikom’s e-waste Campaign Chairman Simon Seow says the dumping of unwanted electronic and electrical products – such as cell phones and personal computers – is becoming a serious environmental problem for the country. This has been compounded by the millions of refurbished, second-hand computers that are being exported by developed nations to emerging markets. ’According to market research company Gartner, 37 million refurbished, second-hand PCs were exported last year,’ he notes. ’These exports are expected to rise to 69 million by 2012 and will no doubt create e-waste in huge proportions. It is important that we start realising the importance of recycling such material.’
Pikom’s Chairman David Wong adds: ’More than 80% of a desk-top computer or lap-top can be recycled. The discarded machines will be sent to (facilities operated by) our partners, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, Samsung and others, where they will be stripped down for reusable parts.’