97% of e-waste processed informally as governance fails: TIB

E-waste management in Bangladesh is currently a victim of weak policy and systemic disorder. Approximately 97% of e-waste is processed informally due to the lack of good governance, a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) research has found.

This observation was made at a press conference held yesterday at TIB's Dhanmondi office to release the research report titled "E-waste Management in Bangladesh: Challenges to Good Governance and Way Forward."

The organisation noted that while the volume of toxic e-waste generated from electronic equipment used in Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming rate, there is a severe lack of good governance and stagnation in effective policy-making for its proper management. Without any administrative oversight, e-waste produced in the country is processed in the informal sector through environment-damaging methods, while only 3 percent goes through formal recycling processes.

The research findings show that the legal framework for e-waste management is currently on-paper only. Regarding e-waste export, informal sector traders are exporting various components, including Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), abroad in extreme violation of the Basel Convention's PIC (Prior Informed Consent) approval system. 

Although four years have passed since the enactment of the Hazardous Waste (e-waste) Management Rules 2021, there has been no effective progress in its application; rather, defying government bans, approximately 15,000 tonnes of e-waste worth $7,00,000 were imported irregularly in the last three years, which is more than the 4,040 tonnes exported.

The report highlights that 88% of the country's consumers are unaware of proper e-waste disposal methods, and 72 percent keep their defunct equipment at home in unsafe conditions.

According to the research report, solar panels used to combat climate change are emerging as a new source of e-waste; it is estimated that about 55 lakh tonnes of e-waste will be generated from solar panels between 2025 and 2060. 

Simultaneously, although 16,724 electric vehicles were imported in the last three fiscal years, there is no system for estimating their batteries and waste. An extreme lack of coordination was also observed in information management. While 14 institutions are registered with BTRC, half of them are operating without registration from the Department of Environment.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said e-waste management in Bangladesh is currently suffering from legal and policy gaps as well as disorder in systemic application. "Even with a ban on imports, thousands of tonnes of toxic e-waste are entering the country through unaccountable irregularities, while e-waste components are being exported abroad in defiance of the Basel Convention. This reflects the professional failure and irresponsibility of monitoring agencies, including the Department of Environment."

To resolve the existing issues in the E-waste management sector, TIB has proposed a 12-point recommendation in its research report. 

According to the recommendations, illegal imports and exports must be stopped immediately through the strict enforcement of the E-waste Management Rules 2021 and the Basel Convention; the scope for illicit financial transactions and corruption must be curbed by fully digitalising environmental clearance and registration processes while increasing the capacity of monitoring and regulatory agencies; a coordinated 'one-stop' service should be launched between the DoE and BTRC to ensure transparency and make information on registered institutions public; informal sector scrap dealers should be brought under a systematic framework through modern training; and a long-term "E-waste Roadmap" must be formulated immediately to address solar panel and electric vehicle waste.

The press conference was attended by TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Adviser-Executive Management Professor Dr Sumaiya Khair, and Director of the Research and Policy Division Muhammad Badiuzzaman. 

Moderated by Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, Director of the Outreach and Communication Division, the research report was presented by TIB Environment and Climate Finance Coordinator Dr Nabil Haque and Research Associate Abdullah Zahid Osmani.

The failure to determine proper management methods and the indecisiveness regarding the EVM machines purchased by the Election Commission during the previous authoritarian government have created a major e-waste risk, Iftekharuzzaman said. 

"Similarly, the absence of clear regulations for the e-waste management of the ship-breaking industry, cars, electric vehicles, solar panels, battery-operated toys, drones, etc, coupled with consumer unawareness and the failure of monitoring agencies, is creating massive health and environmental risks while crushing the potential of converting waste into resources," he added.

The TIB executive director further added, "The government must seriously consider TIB's research-based recommendations in the national interest to end the existing transgression and irresponsibilities. Effective steps must be taken to make this sector economically promising by creating opportunities for extracting precious metals through technological advancement and incentives. 

"As a precondition to this goal, weaknesses identified in existing laws, rules, and policies for e-waste management must be eliminated and the operational capacity and accountability of relevant authoritative institutions must be ensured; otherwise, this toxic waste will invite an unstoppable disaster for public health and th e environment."