Overview of the draft Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill for Ghana

Transcription

1 4 th West African Clean Energy & Environment Exhibition and Conference 2015 / Challenges & Opportunities of Recycling Waste from Electrical & Electronic Equipment (E-Waste) Overview of the draft Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill for Ghana John A. Pwamang, Deputy Executive Director / Operations, EPA-Ghana

2 Presentation Outline (1/2) 1. Background! The e-waste challenge! Opportunities of recycling e-wastes! Imports of e-equipment into Ghana in 2009! Inappropriate recycling of e-waste by informal operators in Ghana! Socio-economics of the informal e-waste recycling sector in Ghana

3 Presentation Outline (2/2) 2. Overview of the draft bill! Part ONE - Control of transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes Domestication of the Basel Convention in Ghana! Part TWO - Electronic Waste (Electronic Waste Levy; Electronic waste recycling fund; Electronic waste recycling plant and other provisions)

4 The e-waste challenge " E-waste refers to electrical and electronic equipment at the end of their "useful life e.g. Computers, mobile phones, refrigerators, TVs " Considered to be one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world with estimated 5% 10% increase in global e-waste generation every year " Contains numerous toxic chemicals and some precious materials such as copper and gold " Classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention " Can be a serious threat to human health and the environment if not properly managed

5 Some hazardous components of e-waste (1) Lead - used in CRT television and computer monitors, lead acid batteries and solder in printed circuit boards. Damages both the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, reproductive system, and kidney. Adversely affects brain development of children. Acute and chronic effects on plant and animal life and on micro-organisms. Cadmium used in soldering, semiconductors, chip resistors, and Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. Accumulates in kidneys and causes renal failure. Damage bones, affect respiratory system and linked to development of high blood pressure and heart disease. Carcinogenic, causes lung cancer. Can accumulate in soil, vegetation, and molluscs. Mercury - found in flat panel LCD monitors, printed circuit boards, switches, lamps and batteries. Linked to kidney, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract damages. Causes respiratory failure, skin disorders, harm developing fetus, and can be passed down through breast milk and fish consumption. Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBTs) Brominated flame retardant (BFRs) - found in plastic casing of computer monitors and electronic equipment, printed circuit boards, cables and wires. Cause increased risks of cancer, liver damage, immune system and endocrine system dysfunction. Can potentially harm the developing foetus, and reduce levels of hormone thyroxin in exposed animals. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - used as coolants and insulators for transformers and capacitors. Carcinogenic, damage liver, affect immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems.

6 Some hazardous components of e-waste (2) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - used for the insulation of wires and cables, and plastic casings of ICT equipment. Releases dioxins and other carcinogenic substances when burned. Causes reproductive and developmental problems, damage Immune system and interferes with regulatory hormones. Antimony - used in production of diodes and batteries, and semiconductors. Potentially carcinogenic to humans. Associated with irritation of respiratory tract, skin and eye. Linked to immune system dysfunction. Barium used in front panel of CRTs. Short term exposure causes brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the heart, liver and spleen. Accumulates in aquatic organism. Beryllium - found in motherboards and electrical connectors. Causes pneumonia, respiratory inflammation, beryllium disease, and skin diseases such as wart. Carcinogenic (lung cancer). Hexavalent Chromium - used for corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates, decorator or hardener for steel housings. Inhalation can cause lung cancer and asthmatic bronchitis, damage the liver, kidneys, and DNA. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & Hydrochloro-flurocarbons (HCFCs) used in refrigerating and airconditioning equipment. Linked to ozone depletion

7 Opportunities of Recycling E-Wastes! 1Mt of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) contains as much gold as 5-15Mt of typical gold ore, and amounts of copper, aluminium and rare metals that exceed by many times the levels found in typical ores. Printed circuit boards are probably the richest ore stream you re ever going to find UNEP and UNU (2009), Recycling From E-Waste to Resources.! Recycling 1Mt of aluminium saves 1.3Mt of bauxite residues, 15m 3 of cooling water, 0.86m 3 of process water and 37 barrels of oil, while preventing the emission of 2Mt of carbon dioxide and 11kg of sulfur dioxide

8 The need for improved legal framework for Control & Management of e-waste in Ghana Imports of e - equipment in 2009 (Mt) Repairable e-waste New 64,500 (30%) - - Used 150,500 (70%) 30,100 (20%) 22,575 (15%) Source: Ghana Country Assessment under the E- Waste Africa Project

9 Importation of used Electrical and Electronic Equipment into Ghana

10 Fate of 280,000Mt of obsolete devices generated in 2009 " Repair: 57% " Storage: 8% " Informal collection: 34% " Formal collection: 1% " City Waste Recycling Limited is engaged in formal e-waste recycling using improved methods " Other companies are engaged in recycling ULABs

11 Inappropriate recycling of e-waste by informal operators in Ghana!"#$%$!"#!"#$%$&'()*+' $%$&'( $%$ &'()*+ &'( )*+'' )*+

12 The informal e-waste sector in Ghana " Estimated total numbers of Collectors, Recyclers & Dependents is 121, ,600 (1.04% %) of urban pop. / (0.50% %) of total pop of Ghana " Estimated indirect contribution of informal e- waste sector to economy is Million US$ " However, informal e-waste workers e.g. collectors earn US$70-140/month, refurbishers $ & recyclers US$ /month.

13 Overview of the draft Bill! Part One: Hazardous waste and other wastes seeks to domesticate the Basel Convention in Ghana! Derived from a draft Hazardous Waste Control and Management Bill that was prepared in 2000 and the Basel Convention Model Legislation Prohibits the importation of hazardous wastes and other wastes into Ghana Provides for the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes from Ghana for environmentally sound disposal Provides for safe transport of hazardous waste and other wastes Provides for notification procedure for transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes

14 Part Two of the Draft Bill - Control and management of e-waste (1/10)! Part Two of the Bill addresses e-waste! Prohibits the importation of e-wastes into Ghana and specifically lists CRTs and CRT Glass! A manufacturer or importer of electronic equipment is required to register with the Agency and pay electronic waste levy in respect of electronic equipment that is imported into the country or manufactured in the country

15 Draft E-waste Bill (2/10) Item Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard) Levy Amount (Ghana Cedis) 5.00 Laptop computer 5.00 Printers 1.00 Cellular telephones 1.00 Television sets 0.50 Video cameras and recorders 1.00 Refrigerators, Freezers, ACs 5.00

16 Draft E-waste Bill (3/10) Levy / Fund! Government Agencies are however exempted from registration and payment of electronic waste levy! The levy is to cater for the costs of collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal and recycling of electronic waste! Provides for the establishment of an Electronic Waste Recycling Fund to provide finance for the management of electronic waste and reduce the adverse impact of electronic waste on human health and the environment

17 Draft e-waste Bill (4/10) E-waste Fund! The sources of money for the Fund include! the levies collected;! moneys received from other sources or that may in any manner become lawfully payable and vested in the Fund; and! moneys approved by Parliament! A manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler of electronic equipment is required to take back used or discarded electronic equipment manufactured or sold by it for recycling purposes

18 Draft E-waste Bill (5/10) Use of Fund Moneys from the Fund shall be used for! the construction and maintenance of electronic waste recycling or treatment plants! to support research into methods of electronic waste prevention, control and management! research into electronic waste treatment and recycling! publication of reports! education of the public on the safe disposal of electronic waste and the negative effects of electronic waste; and! offer incentives for collection and disposal of electronic waste

19 Draft E-waste Bill (6/10) Public Private Partnership (Section 51 of draft Bill) 1) There shall be an electronic waste recycling plant, which shall be established under public-private partnership arrangement between the Agency and a private entity selected in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2) A private sector operator may also establish an electronic wastes recycling plant subject to approval by the Agency

20 Draft E-waste Bill (7/10) Public Private Partnership (Section 51 continued) 3) The Agency shall use 20% of proceeds from the electronic wastes recycling to secure, repair, replace and maintain appropriate receptacles for the deposit of E-Wastes at designated collection points 4) The Agency shall only be responsible for the transportation of E-wastes from designated points to the electronic waste recycling plant 5) Each District Assembly (Local Authority) shall make provision in its bye-laws for the safe disposal of electronic equipment by households and other organisations that it may consider necessary

21 Draft e-waste Bill (8/10) Management of Fund The Fund shall be managed by a seven-member Board of Trustees consisting of one representative each from 1. Environmental Protection Agency 2. Ministry of Communications 3. Ministry of Energy 4. Ministry of Environment 5. Ministry of Health 6. Ministry of Local Government and 7. The Controller and Accountant-General s Dept.

22 Draft E-waste Bill (9/10) Local Authorities shall! Designate points at which electronic waste shall be deposited by importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, refurbishers or repairers in accordance with recycling classifications determined by the Agency; and! Ensure that importers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, refurbishers or repairers of electronic equipment comply with procedures for the disposal of electronic waste by delivering collected electronic waste to the designated assembly points.

23 Other relevant provisions of draft electronic waste Bill (10/10)! Prohibits crude e-waste management such burning and provides for environmentally sound management of electrical and electronic wastes! Development of Guidelines on environmentally sound recycling! Development of Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)! Obligation to optimize reuse and recycling of electrical and electronic waste! Obligations of taking back and obligation of disposal

24 Coordination of hazardous / e-waste management in Ghana 1/2 The Bill on control and management of hazardous wastes / e-wastes provides for an inter-sectoral Technical Committee comprising 1. Chairman appointed by the EPA Board and representatives of 2. Ministry of Environment 3. Ministry of Communications 4. Ministry of Local Government 5. Ministry of Trade and Industry 6. Ghana Standards Authority

25 Coordination of hazardous / e-waste management initiatives in Ghana 2/2 Technical Committee Continued 7 Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority 8 Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority 9 Energy Commission 10 Ghana Atomic Energy Commission 11 Ghana Health Service 12 Environmental Protection Agency 13 Association of Ghana Industries

26 Control and management of used fridges and ozone depleting substances! LI 1812 (Management of Ozone Depleting Substances & Products Regulations, 2005)! LI 1958, 2008 Energy efficiency standards and labelling (Household refrigerating appliances)

27 Status of draft hazardous and electronic waste control and management Bill! A memorandum was submitted and Cabinet gave approval in May 2012 for the preparation of the draft Bill! The draft Bill was presented to stakeholders for review and comments were received! The draft Bill was subsequently revised to address comments from stakeholders! Smaller groups met in 2014 and 2015 to review the Bill and the final version of the Bill is ready! The explanatory memorandum has been signed by the sector Minister to submit the draft Bill to Cabinet for permission to lay it before Parliament for consideration

28 9 November 2015 Bo2W Project 28 Thank you for your Attention