A sobering look at the value chain: new study on electrical recycling published

The discarded smartphone, the broken television, the old stereo: items that are no longer needed in households across Western industrialised nations usually end up in Africa or Asia. There, workers put their health at risk as they dismantle the devices under hazardous conditions to extract valuable materials such as gold or mercury. A new study by the Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik now shows that it is primarily policymakers who could mitigate the risks of e-waste recycling.

From Germany alone, around 155,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment are shipped to Africa and Asia every year. Out of sight, out of mind? To some extent, yes, because the study, entitled ‘Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling: An Ethical Risk Assessment’, also shows that what is needed above all is the initiation of a public debate to improve the living conditions of workers on the mountains of waste and, at the same time, to stem the sustainable loss of valuable raw materials.

Politicians hold the greatest leverage for bringing about change. Yet so far, those involved have not made full use of their scope for action. Despite existing legislation, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the shipment and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment, as well as a lack of expertise in handling it. This also explains the sector’s susceptibility to corruption and the blurred lines between the legal export of waste equipment and the illegal export of electronic waste. “The study shows that the high density of regulations within the sector does not automatically guarantee their effectiveness,” says Dr Christiane Staffhorst, summarising one of the main findings.

The study identifies the specific areas of ethical risk within the sector. It becomes clear that a major problem lies in the misguided incentive structures, which make it economically attractive to circumvent regulations and exploit existing grey areas. However, the main causes of the existing problems also include a lack of resources for monitoring exported goods and insufficient awareness amongst end consumers. Here, too, policymakers could help alleviate the situation through more thorough monitoring and stricter sanctions, improved public information and optimised equipment take-back processes.