Formal E-Waste Management in Nepal: Collection, Recycling, and Disposal Mechanisms Under the EPR Framework

 Formal mechanisms for the collection, recycling, and disposal of e-waste are extensively proposed within the framework of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and regulatory guidelines outlined by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). These proposed mechanisms cover the entire lifecycle of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), ensuring environmentally sound management, increasing collection rates, and fostering a circular economy. 

1. Formal Policy and Regulatory Mechanisms

The overarching formal approach is the establishment of a robust EPR framework, which shifts the responsibility for end-of-life management from the government to the producers (manufacturers, importers, and brand owners or PIBOs).

Key regulatory mechanisms proposed include:

• Policy Formulation: Formulating a national policy and regulatory framework for e-waste management.
• Authorization and Registration: Implementing a formal process for the registration and authorization of collectors, recyclers, and disposers.
• Defining Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of all concerned stakeholders, including the producer/manufacturer, collector, recycler, and disposer.
• Mandatory Standards: Establishing environmental and safety standards for the handling, processing, and disposal of e-waste.
• Monitoring and Enforcement: Developing a strong mechanism for monitoring, auditing, and enforcing compliance with penalties for infringement.

2. Collection Mechanisms

To ensure efficient collection, the proposed frameworks focus on expanding services, incentivizing consumers, and formalizing existing infrastructure:

• Producer Take-Back Systems: Producers are mandated to implement individual take-back schemes or organize into Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). Manufacturers and distributors are responsible for taking back e-cooking devices at the end of their life cycle.
• Establishment of Collection Centers: Setting up collection centers at strategic locations such as urban hubs, retail outlets, and municipal offices.
  • Retailers and repair centers are proposed to act as decentralized collection points.
  • In the absence of authorized centers, local ward offices can support temporary collection.
  • E-waste from households can be routed through existing municipal waste collection mechanisms.
• Incentivized Collection: Introducing financial mechanisms to encourage return, such as deposit-refund schemes or trade-in programs where retailers offer discounts or vouchers for returning old devices upon purchase of new ones.
• Integration of Informal Sector: Formalizing and regulating the extensive network of informal waste workers by licensing, providing training, and offering financial incentives to integrate them into the formal collection process.

3. Recycling Mechanisms

Formal recycling relies on authorized processing facilities, advanced technology, and infrastructure development:

• Authorized Recycling Facilities: Only licensed and registered recyclers operating under state-of-the-art facilities and environmentally sound technologies are permitted to process e-waste.
• Infrastructure Investment: Investment is crucial for establishing modern recycling centers that can properly handle electronic waste across the country.
• Decentralized Dismantling: Setting up decentralized dismantling and refurbishing units in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities.
• Specialized Units: Developing specific recycling units for different parts, such as Li-ion batteries, Printed Circuit Boards, and wires/cables.
• International Collaboration: For materials that are difficult to recycle domestically (e.g., precious metal extraction from PCBs), the policy should allow legal export to certified recyclers in other countries through bilateral and multilateral agreements.

4. Disposal Mechanisms

For non-recoverable or hazardous materials, specific, safe disposal protocols must be followed:

• Treatment of Residue: Non-recoverable and non-recyclable components must be sent to authorized treatment storage and disposal plants/facilities.
• Hazardous Waste Management: Establishing protocols for the safe disposal of hazardous components (like batteries and toxic chemicals).
• Secure Landfills: Developing secure landfill sites designed specifically for hazardous waste.
• Temporary Storage Units: The government should support the establishment of temporary or provincial storage units for e-waste fractions (such as optical fibers, dry cells, and capacitors) that private companies cannot handle domestically.

5. Financial Mechanisms (Funding the System)

The formal mechanisms require robust financing, primarily placing the financial burden on the producers (PIBOs):

• Producer Responsibility Financing (EPR Fee): Producers should finance and organize a system to meet the costs involved in the environmentally sound management of e-waste, including collection, treatment, recovery, and disposal.
• National E-waste Management Fund: A fund should be established, financed by concerned manufacturers, producers, and importers, to be utilized for establishing appropriate mechanisms for collection, recycling, and disposal infrastructure.
• Eco-Fees/ARF: Advanced Recycling Fees (ARF) can be levied on consumers at the point of sale to fund collection and treatment costs.
• Incentives and Subsidies: The system should provide subsidized loans and tax benefits to recyclers investing in environmentally sound technologies.