The following is a question and answer segment with the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean following my blog post on the topic.
How do you define e-waste?
Reference is made to our website for questions 1 and 2.
Describe the work that BCRC-Caribbean is doing for e-waste?
To add to question 2, currently, the BCRC-Caribbean is executing a project entitled Management of E-Waste in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago, which includes the following components:
- The updated report on the current e-waste management practices in the three
project countries
- Proposal on a sub-regional approach to the management of e-waste and the development of training materials
- Development of a business plan for the proposed management solutions
- Dissemination of project results and knowledge dissemination
Tell us about the e-waste survey?
There are two e-waste related surveys that have been posted to our social media in the recent past. The first is a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey for old mobile phones, to assess the general public’s knowledge on the disposal of used and end-of-life mobile phones, as a precursor activity under the project Demonstration of the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Mobile Phones in Trinidad and Tobago, which aims to educate the public on the impacts of improper disposal and will also be hosting a collection drive of used and end-of-life mobile phones.
The next survey that was posted to our social media pages dealt with the disposal of e-waste in general by households in Trinidad and Tobago, as part of the data collection process of the project Management of E-Waste in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Do we in Trinidad and Tobago need a national policy on e-waste?
Currently, in Trinidad and Tobago, there are no legislation that are specific to e-waste, however there is a national policy that addresses the disposal of hazardous waste. Trinidad and Tobago is a party to the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes.
With technology rapidly evolving and the need for technology products increasing with the remote environment that has be catalysed due to the pandemic, necessity arises for the proper tools to effectively manage e-waste. While it may fall under the national policy which was developed for hazardous wastes, it may not be generally known or understood the effects of e-waste.
We can direct you to the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Public Utilities for more information on this question.
What can we do to deal with e-waste?
Persons can have their e-waste safely disposed of through certified disposers. The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) can be contacted to get a full listing of which companies or organisations have a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the ESM of e-waste.
There is an e-waste collection drive for the collection of used and end-of-life mobile phones, along with a campaign that intends to educate the public on the dangers of e-waste and how the e-waste is handled to be discarded, in order to address the public’s concerns.
How can we profit from e-waste management?
A major benefit of the environmentally sound management (ESM) of e-waste is the impacts to human health and the environment. By ensuring that these materials are properly and safely disposed of, the risk of human exposure to toxic chemicals is reduced, and in the long run reduces the drastic effects on health and the environment.
Additionally, e-waste management can contribute positively to the circular economy, where components of the e-waste can be recycled.
The refurbishment, and resale of used electrical and electronic devices can also be profitable, as well as the sale of certain components of the e-waste.
For more information on the situation and context of e-waste in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Planning and Development, Environmental Protection and Planning Division and the Environmental Management Authority can be contacted.
How big of a problem is e-waste?
The United Nations International Telecommunication Union’s Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 revealed that 63.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste was discarded globally, 2.01 billion tonnes. The average annual generation of e-waste for Trinidad and Tobago for the period 2015-2033 is approximately 45,000 tonnes.
More information can be found here:
For more information on the situation and context of e-waste in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Planning and Development, Environmental Protection and Planning Division and the Environmental Management Authority can be contacted.
What can we learn from other countries?
Information on improving e-waste collection and safe disposal, as well as lessons learnt from other countries can be found here:
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