WCE eWASTE INITIATIVE

Helping to do our part

Last updated: 23 January 2008

Over the past several years, World Computer Exchange (WCE) has been gradually building capacity to make a difference on the environmental issue of the appropriate disposal of computer equipment - once it is no longer of use.

The WCE eWaste Initiative summary. (in Word)

The environmental and scientific content of the WCE eWaste Initiative is being guided by the expert international members of the WCE eWaste Consortium.

Profiles of some of WCE volunteer eWaste Researchers

WCE e-Waste Initiative current areas of research: current region of focus: Latin America and the Caribbean

Please look at this Flyer is you are interested in volunteering to do online research to help develop this e-waste tool kit. Flyer in Spanish.

WCE is also looking for a team of teachers in Latin America to develop multi-country experiential project related to issue of eWaste. Stipends will be available from WCE. Call For Teachers in Spanish and English.

WCE was pleased to join our Partner Fundación Cultural Quipus in Bolivia in an IDRC-funded project to develop an e-waste tool kit to orient the public in Latin America and the Caribbean about the "whys" and "hows" of reusing older computers and then the appropriate disposal of dead computer equipment.

The project is described in this proposal to IDRC that was developed by WCE and the products on the project website.

WCE is looking for companies, NGOs, government ministries, businesses and others to help get the word out more widely about reuse and responsible recycling.

If you are interested in reading WCE's proposed dissemination plan for Latin America and the Caribbean for the public message about recycling, please contact: TAnderson@WorldComputerExchange.org

Draft Sales Sheet for companies interested in sponsoring dissemination in specific tools or countries.

WCE is also developing a list of locations that are recycling now and will then work to have them establish stewardship standards.

For more information on this initiative, please contact Timothy Anderson

• WCE POLICY: "The World Computer Exchange ships working computers to its partners with the expectation that the computers will have several years of use connecting schools to the Internet in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. WCE also recognizes that the computing equipment we ship contains materials that are environmentally sensitive. Due diligence must be undertaken to ensure that these materials do not contaminate the environment. At the end of the useful life of each computer, monitor or other peripheral equipment, these materials must be recycled or disposed of in such a way that minimizes ecological harm. The agreements between WCE and its Partners require that the Partners ensure that the schools and centres that they recruit, dispose of all parts and equipment in an environmentally safe manner. Disposal procedures should at least meet, and if possible surpass, local legal standards. WCE requires that this language is included in the letter of agreement between WCE's Partner and the schools and centres that they recruit. This policy will be further defined after exploration of criteria suggested by various agencies and countries."

Voted by the Board of Directors: 9 September, 2001

This is a part of all partnership agreements and letters between Partners and the schools they recruit.

Each of WCE's Partners now include the following language in their required Implementation Plan:

"23. Your plan for disposal of computers after their expected long life when they no longer work in a way that minimizes environmental harm and will follow your local laws and regulations."

Also, each of WCE's formal partnership agreements now include the following language:

PARTNER AGREEMENT: The Partner agrees that each computer set will be used primarily for the purpose of connecting poor youth to the Internet for a period of at least 5 years and to do the following: Have schools/centres sign to do and assist them in implementing the following: and (f) recycle or dispose of all computer equipment at the end of its useful life in a way that minimal ecological harm is done;

Each school receiving a computer now signs an agreement with WCE's Partner in their country stating the following:

Our school or community centre wishes to receive computers and monitors to be used to provide free Internet access for our youth. In exchange, we agree to the following:

• We will recycle or dispose of each piece of computer equipment at the end of its useful life in a way than minimizes ecological harm;

From Computers and the Environment, edited by Ruediger Kuehr and Eric Williams:

• Manufacturing computers is materials intensive; the total fossil fuels used to make one desktop computer weigh over 240 kilograms, some 10 times the weight of the computer itself. This is very high compared to many other goods: For an automobile or refrigerator, for example, the weight of fossil fuels used for production is roughly equal to their weights. Also, substantial quantities of chemicals (22 kg), and water (1,500 kg) are also used. The environmental impacts associated with using fossil fuels (e.g. climate change), chemicals (e.g. possible health effects on microchip production workers) and water (e.g. scarcity in some areas) are significant and deserve attention.
• The environmental benefits and economic costs of recycling computers under the European Union legislation WEEE depend very much on how the system is implemented. Recycling managed by a monopolist concern, whose main interest is meeting simple recycling targets for a fixed fee, could result in an expensive system with relatively small environmental benefit. A multilateral concern aimed at maximizing profit and reuse across the life cycle presents a more promising picture.
• Decisions by consumers on how PCs are used and disposed of have an enormous effect on environmental impacts. Extending the usable life is very effective for reducing all types of burdens, but relatively few older PCs are being resold, refurbished or recycled – most are stored in warehouses, basements, or closets and eventually end up in landfills. Awareness building and incentives are needed so that consumers will consider environmental issues when buying, using and finally disposing of a computer.