E-waste management

E-waste is a growing threat to our environment , human life and has become the fastest growing waste stream in Bangladesh. It also has emerged as a lucrative business. Every year Bangladesh generates roughly 2.7 million metric tons of e-waste and has generated 6233.o4 metric tons of toxics e-waste in cell phones alone in the last 10 years. That’s why Bangladesh need a comprehensive rules and regulation for management and control mechanism for Electrical and Electronic products import production and uses. The E-waste `Draft Rules, 2011’ need to clearly specify that Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, Department of Environment and Department of Information Technology will be responsible for Enforcement of RoHS guidelines included in the E-waste Rules. E-waste needs to be managed keeping in mind its dynamic nature. The rules, hence, should include process and time period of review and revision.

Environment and Social Development Organization –ESDO has played a significant role on E-waste management and has done many awareness and education programs. Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) launched its e-waste awareness project entitled: “E-waste Education for the Next Generation” On January 13, 2011. The project is supported by International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), under the auspices of the International SAICM Implementation Project (ISIP). As part of this project,ESDO has aimed to host a series of educational classes at a selection of Dhaka City schools.

• ESDO started working as an E-waste advocate for formulation of national policy and management guideline in Bangladesh.
• Recently two series of reports have broadcasted and ESDO’s study by local television channels. ESDO team has conducted a workshop on 7^th February,2015. The main objective of the workshop was to raise awareness about e-waste among the young generation since they are involved more with latest gadgets, hence, the main contributor of e-waste generation.
• It has conducted a survey in 2009 to 2010 to determine the volume of e-waste generated by a nominated six `E-waste’ products which include the televisions, computers, mobile phones, CFL bulbs, medical equipment and dental equipment.
• In January,2011 Environment and Social Development Organization launched its e-waste awareness project entitled “ E-waste Education for the next Generation’’ supported by International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) under the auspices of the International SAICM Implementation Project(ISIP). As part of this project, ESDO has aimed to host a series of educational classes at a selection of Dhaka City schools.
• In 2012, ESDO organized two major workshops on E-waste management to increase awareness on it.
• In 2013 ESDO met with two representatives from Japanese firm JTEC and discussed the growing e-waste problem in Bangladesh and ESDO’s efforts to introduce guidelines for the management of e-waste.
• In 2014 a private Bangladesh TV channel broadcast ESDO’s documentary on e-waste over 4 days. The documentary highlighted the threat-waste has become to the environment and human health. It is the first ever documentary on e-waste in Bangladesh. In 2014 ESDO organized a press briefing to let the media, NGOs, public and the Government know about the issue and launched a website.