Research Information Homepage-> 研討會論文
Detail
[English Abstract] :
Volumes of waste from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) are growing rapidly. While WEEE causes massive concerns due to the negative impact on human health and the environment, discarded electronic products can also be perceived as an in-use stock of resources in the global economy. Accordingly, with every new electronic gadget on the market, the potential of urban mining grows. However, for many metals used in electronic gadgets, the recycling rate is still below 1% percent.
In 2015, the European Commission adopted its plan to transform the EU into a Circular Economy where resources are used in a more sustainable way. It seeks to retrieve maximum value from raw materials, products, and waste but also promotes energy savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thus creating strong synergies with the EU´s climate and energy targets.
Although ASEAN is the home to many densely populated urban agglomerations (e.g., Jakarta, Bangkok, Ho Chih Minh, Singapore, Manila etc.), producing millions of tons of e-waste every year, the enormous potential of urban mining has been largely ignored by political leaders. Undeniably, ASEAN countries show a largely varying degree of economic development, and the drive for cooperation is limited. However, the lack of an overall long-term strategy represents a lost opportunity as urban mining could not only boost economic development, raise competitiveness and spur innovation but also help to reduce import dependency and secure the steady supply of critical raw materials (CRM). CRMs are needed for various industrial applications and electronic devices. Consequently, a low rate of recycling equals missed economic opportunities.
The aim of the paper is to reveal the potential of urban mining in ASEAN. The recycling market is growing fast and urban mining not only provides economic but also environmental benefits. Since the stream of e-waste is to grow rapidly in the future, it is necessary for ASEAN to develop a strategy and implement a long-term plan for resolving the issue.
Keywords: urban mining, e-waste, recycling, metals, ASEAN