Qualitative Analysis of the E-Waste Management Practices and Policy Frameworks in Bangladesh and other South Asian Countries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55712/e3ze9j71Keywords:
electronic waste, e-waste management, waste management policies, e-waste management system, South AsiaAbstract
Instantaneous shifts in the electronics industry are leading many electronic items to become obsolete early, creating huge volumes of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE/e-waste). The environmental and health effects of e-waste generated in developing countries are feared to be exacerbating, particularly in South Asia. Additional to issues with proper disposal and treatment of domestic waste, emerging market economies like Bangladesh are importing large amounts of e-waste from developed countries, to recover and re-use as raw materials, whilst handling their own increasing e-waste production. The scenario of e-waste generation, current policies and management practices are analysed and evaluated using comparative analysis of policies from four South Asian countries, document analysis and key informant interviews in Bangladesh. Findings show that even in countries like Sri Lanka and India where current policy framework is comprehensive enough to ensure sustainable e-waste management, implementation lags behind. Finally, recommendations are given for developing a sustainable e-waste management system focusing on the Bangladeshi context.
References
[1] Ahmed, S., Hossian, A., & Alam, F. (2022). Energy security evaluation through solid waste management in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. AIP Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0114999
[2] Andeobu, L., Wibowo, S., & Grandhi, S. (2023). Environmental and Health Consequences of E-Waste Dumping and Recycling Carried out by Selected Countries in Asia and Latin America. Sustainability, 15(13), 10405.
[3] Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (2022). Guidelines for E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022. Central Pollution Control Board, India. https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/Projects/E-Waste/e-waste_rules_2022.pdf.
[4] Doan, L. T. T., Amer, Y., Lee, S. H., & Phuc, P. N. K. (2019). Strategies for E-waste management: a literature review. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 13(3), 157-162.
[5] Ganguly, R. (2016). E-waste management in India–an overview. International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering, 9(2), 574-588.
[6] Ghulam, S. T., & Abushammala, H. (2023). Challenges and opportunities in the management of electronic waste and its impact on human health and environment. Sustainability, 15(3), 1837.
[7] Giri, J., & Adhikari, R. (2020). Urgency of proper E-Waste Management plan in Nepal: An overview. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology, 19(1), 107–118.
[8] Islam, A., Ahmed, T., Awual, M. R., Rahman, A., Sultana, M., Aziz, A. A., Monir, M. U., Teo, S. H., & Hasan, M. (2020). Advances in sustainable approaches to recover metals from e-waste-A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 244, 118815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118815
[9] Islam, M. K., Khatun, M. S., Arefin, M. A., Islam, M. R., & Hassan, M. (2021). Waste to energy: An experimental study of utilizing the agricultural residue, MSW, and e-waste available in Bangladesh for pyrolysis conversion. Heliyon, 7(12), e08530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08530
[10] Islam, M. N. (2016). E-waste management of Bangladesh. Int J Innov Hum Ecol Nat Stud, 4(2), 1-12.
[11] Islam, M. S., & Emon, M. M. H. (2016). Current status with facing challenges by entrepreneurs and future prospect of plastic sector in Bangladesh. International Plastic Summit.
[12] Kadir, S. B., Islam, S. T., Rokibuzzaman, S. M., Srestha, S. D., & Bajracharya, R. (2024). Progressive Formalisation of Household Solid Waste Source-Segregation in Khulna City, Bangladesh: A Transition towards Inclusive Circular Economy. Worldwide Waste, 7(1), 2-2.
[13] Kim, M., Jang, Y. C., & Lee, S. (2013). Application of Delphi-AHP methods to select the priorities of WEEE for recycling in a waste management decision-making tool. Journal of environmental management, 128, 941-948.
[14] Kumar, A., Holuszko, M., & Espinosa, D. C. R. (2017). E-waste: An overview on generation, collection, legislation and recycling practices. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 32-42.
[15] Mahbub, A., & Khalid, B., MD. (2015). Electronic waste in Bangladesh: Evaluating the situation, legislation and policy and way forward with strategy and approach. Present Environment and Sustainable Development, 9(1), 81–101. https://doi.org/10.1515/pesd-2015-0005
[16] Masud, M. H., Akram, W., Ahmed, A., Ananno, A. A., Mourshed, M., Hasan, M., & Joardder, M. U. H. (2019). Towards the effective E-waste management in Bangladesh: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(2), 1250-1276.
[17] Mowla, M., Rahman, E., Islam, N., & Aich, N. (2021). Assessment of heavy metal contamination and health risk from indoor dust and air of informal E-waste recycling shops in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 4, 100025.
[18] Mundada, M. N., Kumar, S., & Shekdar, A. V. (2004). E‐waste: a new challenge for waste management in India. International journal of environmental studies, 61(3), 265-279.
[19] Munni, M. N., Karim, M. R., Haque, M., Khan, S., Khan, M. A. S., & Hossain, I. (2024). Awareness, Safety Practices and Associated Factors Among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Bangladesh. Environmental Health Insights, 18, 11786302241271555.
[20] Nnorom, I. C., & Osibanjo, O. (2008). Electronic waste (e-waste): Material flows and management practices in Nigeria. Waste management, 28(8), 1472-1479.
[21] Pan, X., Wong, C. W., & Li, C. (2022). Circular economy practices in the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) industry: A systematic review and future research agendas. Journal of Cleaner Production, 365, 132671.
[22] Parajuly, K., Thapa, K. B., Cimpan, C., & Wenzel, H. (2018). Electronic waste and informal recycling in Kathmandu, Nepal: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 20, 656-666.
[23] Parvez, S. M., Huda, M. M., Rahman, M., Jahan, F., Fujimura, M., Hasan, S. S., ... & Sly, P. D. (2024). Hormonal, liver, and renal function associated with electronic waste (e-waste) exposure in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Toxicology, 505, 153833.
[24] Parvez, S. M., Jahan, F., Abedin, J., Rahman, M., Hasan, S. S., Islam, N., Aich, N., Moniruzzaman, M., Islam, Z., Fujimura, M., Raqib, R., Knibbs, L. D., & Sly, P. D. (2024). Blood lead, cadmium and hair mercury concentrations and association with soil, dust and occupational factors in e-waste recycling workers in Bangladesh. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 257, 114340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114340
[25] Ranasinghe, W. W., & Athapattu, B. C. (2020). Challenges in E-waste management in Sri Lanka. In Handbook of electronic waste management (pp. 283-322). Butterworth-Heinemann.
[26] Roy, H., Islam, M. S., Haque, S., & Riyad, M. H. (2022). Electronic waste management scenario in Bangladesh: policies, recommendations, and case study at Dhaka and Chittagong for a sustainable solution. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 1(3), 100025.
[27] Saha, L., Kumar, V., Tiwari, J., Rawat, S., Singh, J., & Bauddh, K. (2021). Electronic waste and their leachates impact on human health and environment: Global ecological threat and management. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 102049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102049.
[28] Shovon, S. M., Akash, F. A., Rahman, M. A., Rahman, W., Chakraborty, P., Monir, M. U., ... & Khan, M. F. H. (2024). The potential for sustainable waste management and energy recovery in Bangladesh: A review. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 64, 103705.
[29] Thirumarpan, K., & Dilsath, M. S. A. (2016). Household willingness to pay for improved solid waste management in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 18(2).
[30] Yousuf, T. B. (2011). E-Waste management in Bangladesh: Present trend and future implication. ISWA, 2011, 394-403.
[31] Zeng, X., Xu, X., Boezen, H., & Huo, X. (2016). Children with health impairments by heavy metals in an e-waste recycling area. Chemosphere, 148, 408–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.078
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Social Research & Innovation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
