Page 26 from: Recycling International January/February issue 2023

26

Would more carrot
and less stick advance
e-scrap recycling?
Electronics recycling comes with many challenges such as red tape and misconcep-

tions. The Basel Convention, devised to better regulate the trade in hazardous

goods, has matured since its introduction 30 years ago. However, industry players

insist the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is far from ideal for a complex, quickly chang-

ing waste stream.

with all the players involved to see
what rules apply.’
This collaborative approach has been
at the centre of the Basel Convention,
which Yohannes says is based on
‘interim criteria’ where clearly defined
rules do not yet exist. Specifications
are ‘quickly evolving’, along with
industry developments and new tech-
nologies. As a result of ongoing dis-
cussions, she believes the definition of
‘what is waste?’ will be updated again
soon.

DATA IS KEY
One solution could be the GPS track-
ing software from Upgrade Stations,
based in Philadelphia. It gives detailed
product specifications and the history
of who produced it, where and when
it was sold and if it has been repaired.
Knowing this, ‘maximises the chances
of us being able to refurbish and resell
it rather than throw it in the shredder,’
says co-founder and company director

The worldwide electronics market was
worth US$ 1.18 billion (EUR 1.09 bil-
lion) in 2021, with strong growth pro-
jected for the coming years.
Delegates at the E-scrap Conference
in New Orleans heard the sector could
exceed US$ 1.57 billion by 2026. This
leaves recyclers with a lot of cleaning
up when total e-scrap generation last
year is said to have been 59.4 million
tonnes.
Knowing the best way forward
depends on who you ask, Recycling
International learned at the three-day
assembly in late September. A major
theme was how to improve transpar-
ency in global trade and take industri-
al-scale recycling to the next level
‘without cutting corners’.

US A BASEL OBSERVER
Liabeth Yohannes, international policy
analyst at the US Environmental
Protection Agency, acknowledges that
recycling comes with a labyrinth of
regulations. A central pillar is the
Basel Convention, which is supported
in 53 countries.
‘Its foundation is consent given by all
the parties involved,’ she said. ‘This

means both importing and exporting
countries as well as any transit coun-
tries.’ While the US gave initial sup-
port in the 90s, it opted not to ratify
Basel. ‘We’re a non-party, essentially
participating as an observer.’
In this capacity, the US takes new
guidelines on board as much as possi-
ble and has formed technical groups
to closely monitor developments in
the e-scrap waste stream. ‘We
exchange information and know-how
with nations that have ratified the
Basel Convention, though our influ-
ence is limited,’ Yohannes adds.
She expects an updated version by
January 2025 when exports and
imports of all types of e-scrap, both
hazardous and non-hazardous, will be
subject to pre-defined consent proce-
dures. ‘The focus previously was on
hazardous waste but now we want to
broaden the scope. There are also
new shipment tracking requirements.’
The idea is to be even more con-
cerned about global waste flows. ‘It’s
not allowed for developed countries
to trade e-scrap with developing (non-
OECD) countries, though this still hap-
pens on a regular basis,’ she notes. ‘In

future, US e-scrap recyclers will have
to be more careful who they do busi-
ness with.’
Yohannes foresees interruptions and
delays in trade in the coming months
with the sector being becoming ‘more
and more bogged down with notifica-
tions’. At the same time, she expects
more e-scrap to be processed domes-
tically.

UPDATED VISION
‘We’re anticipating a lot of questions
about whether or not and how exactly
lithium-ion batteries are going to fall
inside the scope of Basel,’ Yohannes
explains. ‘They are growing in number
and many countries are eager to take
action.’ Transboundary movement
regarding next-generation batteries
isn’t an easy topic, she insists. ‘There
are many different opinions per coun-
try or even per region so recyclers
would do well to check with anyone
involved to ensure they follow the
proper rules.’
Another issue is the repair and refur-
bishment of used electronics. ‘We cur-
rently can’t make a distinction under
Basel as to how e-scrap can potential-
ly be used. Is it simply scrap? Is it still
a product?
‘Seeing there is a push towards
extending the life-cycles of products
and remanufacturing original parts, I
do expect an impact on future legisla-
tion, both on a national and global
scale.’
It does not help that there is no clear
consensus on criteria for this applica-
tion. ‘I have to repeat myself, check

A U T H O R Kirstin Linnenkoper

‘In future, US electronics recyclers will have to be more careful who they do business with,’ according to Liabeth Yohannes.

26-27-28-29_escrap22part2.indd 26 03-02-2023 13:55