Improving resource efficiency of e-waste recycling in China

Transcription

1 IMPACT SHEET SWITCH-ASIA PROJECT IMPROVING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS BY ADOPTION OF WASTE TRACKING SYSTEM (REWIN) Improving resource efficiency of e-waste recycling in China Linking supply and demand of secondary raw materials in electronic production and recycling by implementing an e-waste tracking system and a secondary material exchange platform This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of GFA Consulting Group GmbH and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

2 IMPACT SHEET SWITCH-Asia project REWIN The Challenge Activities / Strategy China is a fast developing economic region, and the production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) especially is rapidly growing. On the one hand, these growing amounts of EEE causes severe environmental damages when not handled properly as waste, on the other hand, post-consumer Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) contain many materials that are valuable when used as secondary raw materials in the production processes of electronics. In addition, the recycling of residual materials from the electronics production industry saves valuable resources. According to a 2009 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, China already produces about 2.3 million tonnes of e-waste (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States with about 3 million tonnes. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries. Objective The overall objective of the project was to contribute to sustainable production for both Chinese producers of EEE and recyclers, via promoting resource efficiency in order to lower the environmental impact of WEEE. The project covered three key activities: Linking supply and demand of secondary raw materials in electronic production and recycling (chain approach); The development of an adequate recycling infrastructure for WEEE as post-consumer waste and secondary raw materials from the electronic producing industry; and The development of a knowledge structure on Design for Recycling between the recyclers and the electronic producing industry. TARGET GROUPS Chinese electronics production and recycling industry Authorities at the national and regional level, e.g. Ministry of Environment National Solid Waste Management Centre of China, and local waste management authorities from target provinces Industrial associations, such as China Electronics Enterprises Association, China Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Guangdong Provincial Electronic Industrial Association, and Jiangsu Provincial Electronic Information Association Adaptation and Implementation of e-wts The project facilitated target SMEs to register with the electronic waste tracking system (e-wts), which is used by SMEs in the electronic producing and recycling industry. This required an adaptation of the existing WTS developed for hazardous waste, to provide information on categories of waste that normally occurs in the EEE production sector. Identification of Improvement Potential in the Producing Industry Material flows were analysed by key processes; the potential to improve the resource efficiency (e.g. by reduction of cutting and other losses, increased input of secondary materials) was determined and best practice and showcases identified. Involving More SMEs to Scale up the e-wts The project aimed at scaling-up through registration of more SMEs producers, where training programmes and stakeholder workshops were developed and implemented. Overall, enterprises registered; by the end of the project, 106 recyclers and SMEs from the electronics producing sector were registered in the e-wts. WEEE Collection and Recycling Initiatives The project set up new initiatives for collecting WEEE from larger generators, such as public institutions and industry. Future development of e-waste recycling also included the collection and processing of post-consumer e-waste at the household level. The existing formal and informal collection and processing systems at household level in China were screened. The project enabled more recycled components and materials to be used in new products by improving the technology of recycling and by making use of the information from the e-wts. Policy Dialogue and Dissemination The project facilitated a shift in policy making towards enabling sustainable production and consumption (SCP) in the sectors of electronic production and WEEE recycling. The following policy documents were submitted to the Chinese central government: a policy framework and action plan to regulate the e-wts, a report on best WEEE recycling practice in China, as well as a final evaluation report.

3 Scaling-up Strategy Establishing a Network of Stakeholders The e-wts Central Office, within China s National Solid Waste Management Centre (NSWMC), ensured implementation and networking activities at the policy making level. It provides training courses that address all stakeholders and are based on the exchange of experience between China and European Union (EU), improving capacities for all involved stakeholders. Ensuring Information Exchange via e-wts With some adaptation and scaling up, an e-wts was included in the existing WTS for hazardous waste. By registering in the e-wts (100 recyclers already at the end of the project), both resource efficiency of the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) producers and the rate of WEEE recycling will increase substantially. The project has supported enterprises to improve resource efficiency and to link the supply and demand of secondary raw materials. It has also established information exchange on material amounts and types of waste. Design for Recycling This project built up capacities of the target EEE producers on integrating concepts of Design for Recycling into the product design, selection of materials and technologies, and production processes. The development of resource efficiency action plans supports individual SMEs to improve their practices with regard to resource efficiency. Information flow Electronics production industry Consumers (large scale & households) Business Network The implementation of an e-wts and a Secondary Material Exchange Platform (SMEP) as well as a centralised body (e-wts Central Office) brings all value-chain actors together, thus creating a business network and ensuring that production efficiency and recycling of WEEE were optimised. The various training sessions and courses promoted knowledge and adoption of the e-wts and SMEP among recyclers, partly due to the binding nature of e-wts and the expected economic benefits of SMEP. Waste Tracking system Secondary material exchange platform Establishing a Centralised Database Via a centralised information database on EEE production and WEEE recycling, WEEE recycling was institutionalised and its efficiency and quality significantly improved. Best practice was identified to develop the system structure and design. Recycling facilities

4 Results Establishment of Standards and Identification of Best Practice Technical and financial standards for collecting post-consumer WEEE from large generators and for WEEE recycling were designed during the project, based on international and Chinese best practice. The project found that, in 2015, approximately 10-15% of plastics from recycled WEEE are reused for EEE production in China. The proportion of recycled plastics in EEE production has been increasing by 1-2% annually over the last few years a trend that is expected to continue. Contribution to Policy Through project interventions, the number of WEEE categories officially designated for treatment by the Chinese government was increased from five to fourteen. A network centred on the e-wts, comprising electronics producers and WEEE recyclers, was involved by the end of the project, covering enterprises of which 106 are recyclers. During the project, a database was also developed to optimise resource consumption in the electronics industry. The database also includes practical information, such as guidelines for registering and using the e-wts and SMEP system for producers, recyclers, and authorities. The REWIN project has been a great achievement in many respects: Firstly, it served as a gateway for transferring European knowledge to China, where local stakeholders adapted this external know-how to local requirements. This approach proved especially valuable since WEEE amounts have grown drastically within recent years, which makes proper and rapid responsiveness a priority. Secondly, Chinese stakeholders showed a high degree of willingness to test new ways of approaching WEEE-related challenges, which contributed to the positive atmosphere between both the European and the Chinese sides. Finally, from the standpoint of a European researcher, we were confronted with an entirely new array of challenges not common in Europe, which in turn also enhanced our knowledge regarding WEEE management. Prof. Dr. Stefan Salhofer Project Manager Increased Recycling Rates and Efficiency Collection rates of post-consumer e-waste increased by 60% from the targeted larger generators. Collection rates among the large generators have increased by 52% in the target regions. The WEEE recycling rate increased by 20%-30% at the recycling facilities (of the SMEs), compared to Regarding resource efficiency, the share of defined environmentally friendly products (by increased use of secondary raw materials) has increased by 10-15% within the targeted SMEs in the same time period. Enabled the Industrial Sector The project reached SMEs (more than the project target of ). Among these, a sample was taken for individually-designed Resource Efficiency Action Plans; the 32 returned questionnaires showed an increase in the use of secondary resources for production of over 50%, meeting project objectives. A manual was published on material flow analysis (MFA) for electronic producers; based on the MFAs, producers are more capable to gauge the environmental impact of their production processes. Training toolkits in Design for Recycling for EEE producers were created for resource and waste managers of the target companies. In total, 35 trainers and 200 participants from target groups and final beneficiaries, as well as 120 participants from producers and industrial designer were trained. During the project, over 310 people were trained in nine training courses. REWIN field inspection at a local recycler

5 IMPACT SHEET SWITCH-Asia project REWIN Impact in Numbers Economic Impact The use of recycled materials increased by 10-15% at the target producers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Eco-design in the electronics sector has been stimulated by the project and introduced to China. More green products (by increased use of secondary raw materials) have entered the market. More recycling activities of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) have been conducted in an environmentally friendly manner. Environmental Achieved a reduction in resource use by 20% and of solid waste by 3%; Impact Established an electronic waste tracking system (e-wts) ensuring that all recycling processes are tracked and inspected. Reduced soil contamination through better treatment of hazardous waste; Hazardous waste generated from WEEE recycling has been managed according to environmental friendly standards. Social Impact Climate Benefits CO2 Work related accidents have reduced by 23%, after the SMEs adopted new safety measures and informal recycling that generated substantial safety risks has been forbidden. Local communities benefitted from reduced pollution caused by poor handling and recycling of e-waste. Achieved a reduction in energy use by 17% and of GHG emissions by 21%. Green Finance Supported about SMEs to gain better access to finance through Chinese government s subsidy for WEEE recycling. Target Group Engagement Engaged around SMEs and stakeholders in project activities; Organised 40 outreach activities including training sessions, workshops, dialogues, A&S missions, and news releases that involved business associations, local environmental protection authorities, and local and central media. Policy Development Conducted 15 policy events, including four formal policy dialogues that resulted in five new policy recommendations based on best practice and local showcases of the e-wts. Europe-Asia Cooperation Twenty-four events (joint workshops, trainings, A&S missions, and policy dialogues) were organised with European and Asian participants. Two new EU-Asia partnerships were initiated during the project. SCP knowledge, methodologies and experience were shared and transferred at both the managerial and the technical level. asia

6 China Hubei Jiangsu Zhejiang Guangdong Legend Eligible countries for the SWITCH-Asia Programme Non-eligible Asian countries for the SWITCH-Asia Programme Project implementation area City Region Country The boundaries shown on this map do not imply on the part of the European Union any judgment on the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. OBJECTIVES PROJECT CONTACT To contribute to sustainable production for both Chinese producers of EEE and recyclers via promoting resource efficiency in order to lower the environmental impact of WEEE. DURATION PROJECT TOTAL BUDGET 12/ / EUR (EU contribution: 80%) Prof. Dr. Stefan Salhofer BOKU University Vienna, Austria stefan.salhofer@boku.ac.at PARTNERS University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna/Austria Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China China Electronics Enterprises Association (CEEA), China Jingzhou Environmental Protection Bureau, China Rijkswaterstaat, The Netherlands Published in June This publication is printed on 100% recycled paper using an eco-friendly process. Photo source: SWITCH-Asia project REWIN