The amount of electronic waste generated globally is alarming especially that it is on the rise. The impact of the generated amounts is not only Environmental. The electronic waste sector is unregulated in most developing countries; this results in the informal sector being heavily involved in managing and handling it. Due to the lack of regulations, informal handlers are exposed to hazardous materials that affect both their health and health of the communities living in their proximity. Moreover, the informal sector involves illegal child and women labor under harsh conditions. In addition to the social impact, the lack of regulations leads to missing major economic opportunities associated with developing a recycling industry for the safe handling and material recovery from the generated e-waste volumes. Electronic waste may contain up to 60 different materials including precious and rare-earth metals with estimated equivalent economic value of 48 billion Euros. Egypt is one the countries which lack policies and regulations dedicated to e-waste, hence the Egyptian economy is missing the economic potential and job creation opportunities associated with developing the e-waste sector as well as facing major Environmental and health challenges due to the improper handling of the generated amounts. This paper briefly reviews the current situation of e-waste in Egypt. The paper then proposes an adapted guideline for the sustainable management of e-waste in Egypt. The guideline is based on the international regulations and guidelines especially those of countries similar to the Egyptian socioeconomic context. The produced guideline focuses on establishing a collection and recycling framework for e-waste in Egypt with EPR at its center. The guideline also establishes a financing system to help foster the recycling industry in Egypt while fulfilling the three main pillars of sustainability.
References
[1]
Tansel, B. (2017) From Electronic Consumer Products to E-Wastes: Global Outlook, Waste Quantities, Recycling Challenges. Environment International, 98, 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.10.002
[2]
Kumar, A., Holuszko, M., Crocce, D. and Espinosa, R. (2017) E-Waste: An Overview on Generation, Collection, Legislation and Recycling Practices. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.01.018
[3]
Perkins, D.N., Brune Drisse, M.-N., Nxele, T. and Sly, P.D. (2014) E-Waste: A Global Hazard. Annals of Global Health, 80, 286-295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2014.10.001
[4]
Kiddee, P., Naidu, R. and Wong, M.H. (2013) Electronic Waste Management Approaches: An Overview. Waste Management, 33, 1237-1250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.01.006
[5]
Reis De Oliveira, C., Bernardes, A.M. and Gerbase, A.E. (2012) Collection and Recycling of Electronic Scrap: A Worldwide Overview and Comparison with the Brazilian Situation. Waste Management, 32, 1592-1610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.04.003
[6]
Baldé, C.P., Wang, F., Kuehr, R. and Huisman, J. (2015) The Global E-Waste Monitor 2014. Tokyo & Bonn.
[7]
Nnorom, I.C. and Osibanjo, O. (2008) Overview of Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management Practices and Legislations, and Their Poor Applications in the Developing Countries. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 52, 843-858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.01.004
[8]
Kaya, M. (2016) Recovery of Metals and Nonmetals from Electronic Waste by Physical and Chemical Recycling Processes. Waste Management, 57, 64-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.08.004
[9]
Widmer, R., Oswald-Krapf, H., Sinha-Khetriwal, D., Schnellmann, M. and Böni, H. (2005) Global Perspectives on E-Waste. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 25, 436-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2005.04.001
[10]
CAPMAS (2019) Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. Egypt in Figures. http://capmas.gov.eg/Pages/Publications.aspx?page_id=5104&Year=23332
[11]
Centre for Environment for the Arab Region and Europe (2011) Needs Assessment of the E-Waste Sector in Egypt.
[12]
Soliman, F. and Boushra, M. (2017) Mapping of Informal Sector Involved in E-Waste Collection. SECO.
[13]
Rochat, D. and Grégoire, G. (2014) Preparatory Information for the Implementation of an Electronic Waste Pilot Project in Egypt. The World Bank, Washington DC.
[14]
Soliman, F. and Abdelmoniem, G. (2017) Legislations Report: Review of the Existing Egyptian Legislation Applicable to E-Waste Recycling Compared to the European Standards on E-Waste Recycling WEELABEX. SECO.
[15]
Degreif, S., Mehlhart, G. and Merz, C. (2014) Global Circular Economy of Strategic Metals: Best of Two Worlds Approach (Bo2W)—Chapter Egypt. OEKO—Institute E.V., Darmstadt.
[16]
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (2012) Egypt State of the Environment Report 2011.
[17]
Central Pollution Control Board (2016) E-Waste Rules 2016.
[18]
Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Technical Guidelines on Environmentally Sound E-Waste Management for Collectors, Collection Centers, Transporters, Treatment Facilities and Final Disposal in Ghana.
[19]
Kigali (2016) National E-Waste Management Policy for Rwanda.
[20]
Government of Uganda (2016) Guidelines for E-Waste Management in Uganda.
[21]
Smit, E., et al. (2016) Guiding Principles to Develop E-Waste Management Systems and Legislation.
[22]
El-Haggar, S. (2007) Sustainable Industrial Design and Waste Management: Cradle-to-Cradle for Sustainable Development. Elsevier, Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012373623-9/50012-5
[23]
Isildar, A., Rene, E.R., Van Hullebusch, E.D. and Lens, P.N.L. (2018) Electronic Waste as a Secondary Source of Critical Metals: Management and Recovery Technologies. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 135, 296-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.07.031
[24]
Silvas, F.P.C., Jiménez Correa, M.M., Caldas, M.P.K., de Moraes, V.T., Espinosa, D.C.R. and Tenório, J.A.S. (2015) Printed Circuit Board Recycling: Physical Processing and Copper Extraction by Selective Leaching. Waste Management, 46, 503-510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.08.030
[25]
Xue, M., Li, J. and Xu, Z. (2013) Management Strategies on the Industrialization Road of State-of-the-Art Technologies for E-Waste Recycling: The Case Study of Electrostatic Separation—A Review. Waste Management & Research, 31, 130-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X12465464
Abdelbasir, S.M., El-Sheltawy, C.T. and Abdo, D.M. (2018) Green Processes for Electronic Waste Recycling: A Review. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, 4, 295-311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-018-0175-3
[28]
Crawford, C.B. and Quinn, B. (2017) Microplastic Separation Techniques. Elsevier, Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809406-8.00009-8
Haldar, S.K. (2013) Environmental System Management of Mineral Resources and Sustainable Development. In: Mineral Exploration: Principles and Applications, Else-vier, Amsterdam, 267-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-416005-7.00014-3
[31]
Zhang, L. and Xu, Z. (2016) A Review of Current Progress of Recycling Technologies for Metals from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 127, 19-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.04.004
[32]
Shapiro, M. and Galperin, V. (2005) Air Classification of Solid Particles: A Review. Chemical Engineering and Processing, 44, 279-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2004.02.022
[33]
Hou, S., Wu, J., Qin, Y. and Xu, Z. (2010) Electrostatic Separation for Recycling Waste Printed Circuit Board: A Study on External Factor and a Robust Design for Optimization. Environmental Science & Technology, 44, 5177-5181. https://doi.org/10.1021/es903936m
[34]
Xue, M., Yan, G., Li, J. and Xu, Z. (2012) Electrostatic Separation for Recycling Conductors, Semiconductors, and Nonconductors from Electronic Waste. Environmental Science and Technology, 46, 10556-10563. https://doi.org/10.1021/es301830v
[35]
Birloaga, I., De Michelis, I., Ferella, F., Buzatu, M. and Vegliò, F. (2013) Study on the Influence of Various Factors in the Hydrometallurgical Processing of Waste Printed Circuit Boards for Copper and Gold Recovery. Waste Management, 33, 935-941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2013.01.003
