Some International Practices on E-waste

·         United States: In September 2003, California passed the “Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003” (SB20), USA’s first comprehensive electronics recycling law, establishing a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes.

·         European Union: On January 27, 2003, the EU parliament passed a directive that requires producers of electronics to take responsibility, financial and otherwise, for recovery and recycling of E-Waste (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment-WEEE).

·         Japan: Since April 2001, manufacturers have had to recycle appliances, televisions, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Under a new law, manufacturers would charge a recycling fee to consumers.

·         OECD: The OECD has developed international guidelines on the “environmentally sound management” (ESM) of used and scrap personal computers.

·         China: The Standing Committee of the 9th NPC promulgated a law in 2002, requiring compulsory retrieval of used industrial products.

·         Netherlands: In 1998, passed, “The Disposal of White and Brown Goods Decree.” It requires manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment sold in the country to take back their end-of-life products.

·         Austria: Recyle-IT! Austria (RITA) is an initiative to collect used computers from manufacturers and other companies, upgrade and repair the computers, and then sell them at reasonable prices to low-income households or schools.