A Need for Sustainable Management of Electronic Waste (e-Waste) in Australia

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-Waste) is a rapidly growing international waste stream increasing at a much higher rate than the traditional waste streams around the world. It is estimated that 20 to 50 million tonnes of this waste stream is generated globally. Fast growing electronics industry due to rising demand of information and communication technology (ICT) products coupled with rapid product obsolescence have led to the un-sustainable management of this waste stream. E-waste is Australia in regarded as a sleeping giant as little is known about this waste stream. Given this high uptake of ICT, sustainable management of such products at their end-of-life is becoming a major challenge to policy makers in Australia. Currently there is no national framework for dealing with e-Waste. Product stewardship through co-regulation is seen as one of the possible approaches favoured by most stakeholders.