AN OVERVIEW OF ELECTRONIC WASTE (E-WASTE) LAWS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

Computer Internet networking and information and communications technology (ICT) have improved people's lives in almost every aspect of modern life, even in developing countries most isolated areas.  Computer capabilities have been enhanced due to the rapid advancement of ICT. But this has also resulted in shorter product lifetimes, which raises the quantity of electronic garbage (e-waste/ e- debris/e-trash), produced annually. Consequently, these countries are now handling sizable volumes of e-debris. Developing countries face several obstacles when it comes to managing e-waste, some of which include the need to establish extended producer responsibility (EPR), the absence of laws particularly addressing e-waste, the lack of a system for end-of-life (EoL) product take-back, and inadequate infrastructure for proper waste management. Remanufacturing goods, establishing effective recycling facilities, and putting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) into practice are all necessary to efficiently handle e-debris in developing nations. Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that has been reconditioned or used is the primary source of ICT development in many developing nations, especially in Africa. These devices are frequently imported without functional certification. Restricting the export of electronic trash requires the establishment of an international framework for the standardized procedures, certification, and labelling of used equipment intended for sale to developing nations  which are sold as used appliances. The proper management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is turning into a significant concern for numerous nations worldwide. Developing countries in particular face several issues about the production, cross-border travel and electronic trash handling. Asia is the primary producer of the 20–50 MT (million tonnes) of e-trash that are projected to be created annually worldwide. Improper handling of electronic trash can have a detrimental impact on both the environment and the health of people Because of its hazardous contents. Many countries are currently struggling to deal with this new challenge. Although recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, and disposal are all part of EoL management of electronic waste so lot of focus is being placed on reducing the source of generation of electronic trash through greener design and more sustainable manufacturing. There is either very little or no environmentally sound management (ESM) of e-debris in developing nations. For the whole region, cross-border e-debris movement is a serious issue. Managing the unorganized recycling sector is a challenging social and environmental undertaking. In their pursuit of ESM of e-waste, these countries face a significant number of these challenges. The goal of this paper is to give an overall summary of the challenges and issues developing nations face when trying to handle their electronic debris effectively.