Electrical and electronic wastes in the world and Türkiye: policies and practices in Türkiye and some recommendations

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 71 - 80, 31.12.2022

Ali Özhan Akyüz , Kazım Kumaş

https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1134468

Abstract

All of the electrical and electronic products that no longer work, are unwanted, or have expired are called electronic waste or e-waste. Computers, televisions, mobile phones, fax machines, and printers make up the majority of this waste. So why are these wastes harmful? The recycling of end-of-life products is not only an ecologically necessary issue supported by regulations but also economically interesting because of the use of raw materials and reduced costs. Therefore, electronic waste (e-waste) is now seen as a serious raw material source rather than waste, as it includes materials that have a chance of secondary use as well as recyclable materials. The problem of electronic waste in the world is not separate from the problem of electronic waste in Türkiye. The global electronic waste problem is a whole made up of parts. E-waste is a subject that needs to be read and analyzed from a holistic perspective in Türkiye and the world.
In this study, what has been done about e-waste in the world and Türkiye, numerical information is given in detail. Various solution proposals have been tried to be proposed in terms of the e-waste problem in Türkiye.

Keywords

Environental problems, E-waste, Pollution

References

• https://www.step-initiative.org/e-waste-challenge.html. (08 June 2022)
• Parajuly, K., Kuehr, R., Awasthi, A. K., Fitzpatrick, C., Lepawsky, J., Smith E., Widmer, R. and Zeng, X. 2019. Future E-waste Scenarios.
• Kumara, A., Holuszkoa, M. and Espinosab, D.C.R. 2017. E-waste: An overview on generation,collection, legislation and recycling practices. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 32-42.
• Choudhary, K. 2017. Electronic waste: a growing concern in today's environment. Surya-The Energy Management Research Journal, 3(4), 36-49.
• https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/what-is-e-waste (17 May 2022)
• Chakraborty, M., Kettle, J. and Dahiya, R. 2022. Electronic waste reduction through devices and printed circuit boards designed for circularity. IEEE Journal on Flexible Electronics, 1(1), 4-23.
• Nithya, R., Sivasankari, C. and Thirunavukkarasu, A. 2021. Electronic waste generation, regulation and metal recovery: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19(2), 1347-1368.
• 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.
• Wang, R. and Xu, Z. 2014. Recycling of non-metallic fractions from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): A review. Waste Management, 34(8), 1455-1469.
• Ankit, Saha, L., Kumar, V., Tiwari, J., Rawat, S., Singh, J. and Bauddh, K. 2021. Electronic waste and their leachates impact on human health and environment: Global ecological threat and management. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 102049,1-28.
• Rajesh, R., Kanakadhurga, D. and Prabaharan, N. 2022. Electronic waste: A critical assessment on the unimaginable growing pollutant, legislations and environmental impacts. Environmental Challenges, 7, 100507,1-15.
• Ogunseitan, O. A. 2013. The basel convention and e-waste: translation of scientific uncertainty to protective policy. The Lancet Global Health, 1(6), e313-e314.
• Khan, S. A. 2016. E-products, e-waste and the basel convention: regulatory challenges and impossibilities of international environmental law. Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 25(2), 248-260.
• Suraweera, I. 2016. E-waste issues in sri lanka and the basel convention. Reviews on Environmental Health, 31(1), 141-144.
• Öztürk, T. 2015. Generation and management of electrical-electronic waste (e-waste) in Turkey. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 17, 411-421.
• İzmirlioğlu, A. 2017. Han insight view into e-waste legislation in Turkey and EU. Journal of Yedıtepe Unıversıty Faculty of Law, XIV (2), 293-304.
• Goodship, V., Stevels, A., & Huisman, J. (Eds.). Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) handbook. Second Edition, Woodhead Publishing, Elsevier, 2019.
• Andeobu, L., Wibowo, S. and Grandhi, S. 2021. An assessment of e-waste generation and environmental management of selected countries in Africa, Europe and North America: A systematic review. Science of The Total Environment, 792, 148078, 1-15.
• Balde, C. P., Kuehr, R., Blumenthal, K., Fondeur Gill, S., Kern, M., Micheli, P., Magpantay, E., and Huisman, J. 2015. E-waste statistics-guidelines on classification, reporting and indicators, United Nations University, IAS-SCYCLE, Bonn (Germany) 2015.
• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/Separate%20collection_Final%20Report.pdf. (20March 2022).
• Rene, E. R., Sethurajan, M., Ponnusamy, V. K., Kumar, G., Dung, T. N. B., Brindhadevi, K. and Pugazhendhi, A. 2021. Electronic waste generation, recycling and resource recovery: technological perspectives and trends. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, 125664,1-11.
• Forti, V., Balde, C. P., Kuehr, R. and Bel, G. The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. SCYCLE Books, United Nations University/United Nations Institute for Training and Research, International Telecommunication Union, and International Solid Waste Association, Bonn, Geneva and Rotterdam, 2020.
• https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51385344 (23 March 2022).
• Hischier, R. and Böni, H. W. 2021. Combining environmental and economic factors to evaluate the reuse of electrical and electronic equipment – a Swiss case study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 166, 105307, 1-8.
• Duan, H., Miller, T. R., Gregory, J., Kirchain, R. and Linnell, J. 2013. Quantitative characterization of domestic and transboundary flows of used electronics: Analysis of generation, collection, and export in the United States. Official Document of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the umbrella of Solviong the e-waste problem (STEP) Dec, 121.
• https://quantumlifecycle.com/blog/whats-the-average-lifespan-of-your-electronics/ (10 April 2022).
• Hashmi, M. Z. and Varma, A. (Eds). Electronic Waste Pollution. Springer, Switzerland, 2019.
• Fornalczyk, A., Willner, J., Francuz, K. and Cebulski, J. (2013). E-waste as a source of valuable metals. Archives of Materials Science and Engineering 63(2), 87-92.
• Ghosh, M., Basu, S., Sur, D. and Banerjee, P.S. 2020. Metallic Materials from E-Waste. Encyclopedia of Renewable and Sustainable Materials, 1, 438-455.
• https://www.elektriktesisatportali.com/elektronik-atiklarin-geri-donusturulmesinin-milli-ekonomiye-olan-katkilarinin-incelenmesi.html
• Berkhout, F. and Hertin, J. 2004. De-materialising and re-materialising: digital technologies and the environment. Futures, 36(8), 903-920.
• Baxter, J. 2019. Systematic environmental assessment of end-of-life pathways for domestic refrigerators. Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 612-620.
• Schaik, A.V., Reuter, M. A. Shredding, sorting and recovery of metals from WEEE: linking design to resource efficiency, in Goodship,V., Stevels, A. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) handbook, Woodhead Publishing, 2012.
• Porras, G.Y., Keoleian, G.A., Lewis, G. M. and Seeba, N. 2020. A guide to household manual and machine dishwashing through a life cycle perspective. Environmental Research Communications, 2(2), 1-15. https://www.reportlinker.com/market-report/HVAC/7959/Air-Conditioning (23 March 2022).
• http://eco3e.eu/products/air-conditioner(15 June 2022).
• Eduljee, G. H. and Harrison, R. M. (Eds.). Electronic Waste Management. Royal Society of Chemistry, Second Edition, Royal Society of Chemistry, US, 2019.
• Amphalop, N., Suwantarat, N., Prueksasit, T., Yachusri., C. and Srithongouthai, S. 2020. Ecological risk assessment of arsenic, cadmium, copper, and lead contamination in soil in e-waste separating household area, Buriram province, Thailand. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 44396–44411.
• Yang, J., Bertram, J., Schettgen, T., Heitland, P., Fischer, D., Seidu, F., Felten, M., Kraus, T., Fobil, J.N. and Kaifie, A. 2020. Arsenic burden in e-waste recycling workers - A cross-sectional study at the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site, Chemosphere, Ghana. 261.
• Ribeiro, J. N., Barbosa, A. F. M., Ribeiro, A. V. F. N., Pereira, M. G., Oliveira, J. P., Zordan, A.B. and Silva, A. R. 2022. E-waste and its consequence for environment and public health: Perspectives in covid-19 pandemic times. Global Journal of Health Science, 14(3), 54-76.
• Vidyadhar, A. A Review of Technology of Metal Recovery from Electronic Waste, in: Mihai, F-C., E-Waste in Transition-From Pollution to Resource. Intech Open, Croatia, 2016, 121-158.
• WEF, 2019. A New Circular Vision for Electronics, The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_A_New_Circular_Vision_for_Electronics.pdf.
• Baldé, C. P., Forti, V., Gray, V., Kuehr, R. and Stegmann, P. 2017. The global e-waste monitor 2017: Quantities, flows and resources. United Nations University, International Telecommunication Union, and International Solid Waste Association, 102syf.
• T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Resmi Gazete, https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/
• EC, 2014. Study on collection rates of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), European
• Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/
• ÇŞB 2017, Ulusal atık yönetimi eylem planı (2016-2023).
• ÇŞB, 2019. Tehlikeli Atık İstatistikleri Bülteni 2017, Çevre ve Şehircilik Bakanlığı.
• https://www.tyk.org.tr/tr/aeee-nereye/ (15 June 2022).