The aim of the NVMP is to collect as
many used electrical appliances and compact fluorescent lamps as possible and
to recycle them in an environmentally responsible manner. To do this, it is
important to have well-grounded insight into, for example, the composition and
characteristics of electric and electronic waste, the behaviour connected to
the possession and discarding of electric and electronic waste and into the
so-called complementary streams: where does the electric and electronic waste end
up that is not collected by the NVMP?
The NVMP commissions various (scientific) studies and participates with other
parties in joint studies.
The following overview lists studies that have been rounded off and that are
still underway:
Complementary streams
Study conducted in 2008 by Witteveen + Bos into the streams of electric and
electronic waste that are not collected and processed by the NVMP.
Possession measurement SME
Study conducted in 2009 by GfK Panel Services Benelux into the possession,
discarding and acquisition of white goods, brown goods and grey goods in the sector
of SME companies with up to 10 employees.
Report not yet available.
Study conducted in 2007 by GfK Panel Services Benelux into the possession,
discarding and acquisition of white goods, brown goods and grey goods in
private households. In addition, researchers inquired after the average age of
the present and discarded electric and electronic appliances.
Determination of weight
Study conducted in 2009 by Witteveen + Bos into the average weight of
electric and electronic appliances collected at a specific regional sorting
centre. These data can be used among other things for obtaining a more detailed
perspective on the results and conclusions of a number of other studies.
Report not yet available.
Overview of E-Waste
studies
Background
African countries have to deal with more and more e-waste-related problems. Although a certain number of these issues are the consequence of a strong increase in the recycling of IT appliances, this problem is further compounded by the illegal import of used and end-of-life appliances (e-waste) from industrialised countries.
While a certain share of these import items are repaired by a local revision industry, considerable volumes of e-waste are simply dumped at uncontrolled tips or burned. This is often done after the metal has been manually removed/burnt off. In view of the numerous hazardous components present in electric appliances, such practices lead to serious local pollution, posing a severe threat to both human health and the environment.
Ghana and Nigeria
are the key West
African hot spots for this e-waste problem. The authorities responsible for
enforcing environmental legislation in Ghana and the Netherlands have started
to work together, in order to improve the monitoring of cross-border waste
transport and to prevent the unwanted import of e-waste and second-hand
appliances in Ghana. Another aim is to stimulate the exchange of information
between the relevant authorities in Ghana
and the Netherlands.
In addition, efforts are made to address the issue of the build-up and
recycling of e-waste in Ghana,
and to identify ways to improve the environmental situation without neglecting
the social and economic needs of the local e-waste sector.
The NVMP and the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the
Environment (VROM) are collaborating in a variety of projects aimed at studying
the complex issue of e-waste. The projects connect to the current activities of
the ‘E-waste Africa Project’, which is carried out by the secretariat of the
Basel Convention* in various African countries including Ghana and Nigeria. The NVMP also works
together with the Basel Convention in a variety of programmes.
*) The Basel Convention coordinates an e-waste project in Africa entitled ‘Building
local capacity to address the flow of e-wastes and electrical and electronic
products destined for reuse in selected African countries and augment the
sustainable management of resources through the recovery of materials in
e-wastes’.
Socio-economic research Ghana
Study conducted by the German Öko-Institut
together with the Ghanaian organisation Green Advocacy into the socio-economic
aspects of the e-waste sector in Ghana. The study focuses on both
the positive and negative social, environmental and economic consequences. This
study was commissioned by the NVMP and the inspectorate of the Dutch Ministry
of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM).
Results: June 2010.
Port study Netherlands and Belgium
Study conducted by the German Öko-Institut into the (illegal) export of
electric goods from the ports of Antwerp and Amsterdam. The objective
is to determine the scope and composition of this export. The NVMP has co-financed
this study.
Results: end of 2010.
Port study Ghana
Study conducted by EMPA (Swiss research institute dealing with materiology and
the development of technology) into the (illegal) import of electric goods at
the port of Accra
in Ghana.
The objective is to determine the scope and composition of this import. The
NVMP has co-financed this study.
Results: end of 2010.
NVMP StEP E-Waste Summer School
The StEP Initiative (Solving the E-waste Problem Initiative) is a network of private
companies, academic and research institutes, NGOs and international and
governmental organisations that aim to contribute to the solution of the
e-waste problem via scientific research and pilot projects. The StEP Initiative
is organised by the United Nations University in Bonn, Germany.
The NVMP makes the E-Waste Summer
School possible. During the NVMP-StEP E-waste Summer School, some 20, often
young, scientists and researchers and as many experts from 15 different
countries take an integrated approach to the problem of e-waste, in which both
political, technological, economic and social aspects are taken on board. The
objective is to share the latest scientific insights with one another and to
encourage collaboration in the area of research. The first NVMP StEP E-Waste
Summer School was held in the Netherlands
in September 2009.
The next Summer School is scheduled for September 2010.
