HP is one of the main private sector sponsors of StEP, a new global electronic waste initiative of the United Nations University (UNU) - which will host the StEP Secretariat in Germany -, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The public-private initiative “Solving the E-Waste Problem”(StEP), which was announced on March 6th, aims to increase recycling, improve and harmonise recycling standards and legislation and reduce the volume of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) that is not disposed of safely.
HP is supporting StEP because it is the first initiative to address e-waste globally. StEP brings a number of international and national stakeholders together, including NGOs, governments, public sector agencies, private sector companies and universities.
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E-waste fastest growing waste category
According to StEP, e-waste is among the fastest-growing types of waste in the world and soon is likely to reach 40 million metric tonnes a year, or enough to fill a line of garbage collection trucks stretching halfway around the world.
“E-waste – such as PCs, TVs, microwave ovens, batteries, photocopiers or hairdryers – often releases toxins when disposed without proper treatment”, said Klaus Hieronymi, Director, Environmental Business Management Organization, HP Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “On the other hand, retired electronic products contain many raw materials that can be recycled,” he added.
Some products contain valuable gold, silver, platinum or indium. Prices of indium, for instance, have surged to €565 (£375) a kilogram from €55 (£36) in 2002. But also prices for steel aluminium and copper and even recycled plastics have increased dramatically over the past years, mainly due to the demand in Asia.
Due to the trading value of these valuable components, informal recycling already takes place in many countries around the world. Electronics are often dismantled in backyard operations by untrained staff without appropriate tools and the required safety measures. As a result, people and the environment are often exposed to toxic substances contained in e-waste, posing a serious risk to human health and the environment.
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Creating global recycling standards
Over the next three years, StEP will undertake a number of research and policy projects in order to develop and promote global e-waste recycling standards. As part of StEP, a team of researchers will also offer training to recycling operators in developing economies to help them develop effective, safe recycling practices.
HP will work with StEP, sharing best practices from its Design for Recycling and Design for Environment product development programmes. As a co-founder of the European Recycling Platform, it can also share insights on implementing the European directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and will work with StEP partners to encourage businesses and consumers to recycle their IT equipment.
STEP also aims to work closely with governments that implement and develop e-waste legislation to evaluate and share best practices and insights for the benefit of similar projects in other parts of the globe.
Ultimately, StEP expects to develop a certification process for recycling companies on a world-wide basis, enabling companies and public sector services to recycle e-waste even when there are no adequate local facilities.
HP recycled more than 74 million kg of its hardware and print cartridges in 2006. As part of its Design for Recycling programme it has made it easier for its hardware to be dissembled into individual components.
In Europe, HP is co-founder of the European Recycling Platform, a membership-based industry recycling platform created in response to the EU WEEE directive. The WEEE directive requires all manufacturers of electric or electronic equipment to arrange for their products to be recycled at the end of their life span.
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Global Citizenship Reports 2006 (*) |
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