Basel Convention

Basel Convention covers all discarded / disposed materials that possess hazardous characteristics as well as all wastes considered hazardous on a national basis. Annex VIII, refers to E-waste, which is considered hazardous under Art. 1, par. 1(a) of the Convention: A1180. Waste electrical and electronic assemblies or scrap containing components such as accumulators and other batteries included in list A, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass and PCB-capacitors, or contaminated with Annex I constituents (e.g., cadmium, mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl) to an extent that they possess any of the characteristics contained in Annex III. Annex IX, contains the mirror entry, B1110 Electrical and Electronic assemblies given below:

• Electronic assemblies consisting only of metals or alloys
• Waste electrical and electronic assemblies or scrap (including printed circuit boards) not containing components such as accumulators and other batteries included on List A, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass and PCB-capacitors, or not contaminated with Annex 1.

OECD (2001)

WEEE / E-waste have been defined as “any appliance using an electric power supply that has reached its end-of-life.”

Basis of E-waste Definitions

Analysis of above definitions mentioned in sections before indicates that WEEE/ E-waste definition is driven by three major drivers. These drivers are given below:

1. Definition of “electrical and electronic equipment”
2. Description of its ‘loss of utility”
3. Way of disposal

“Loss of Utility” indicates variation in consumer behavior, while “Way of Disposal” broadly reflects different national policies and regulations for considering waste as “pollutant” or a ‘resource”. In other countries, the evolution of WEEE/ E-waste definition started with disposal of computers and televisions where CRT disposal is a major environmental concern. Therefore, computers and televisions were included into coverage of electronic equipment with amendments expected to include other items in future. The most widely accepted definition of WEEE/ E-waste is as per the EU directive. The major features of this definition include definition of “electrical and electronic equipment”, its classification into ten categories and its extent as per voltage rating of 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current. Electrical and electronic equipment have been further classified into “components”, “sub-assemblies” and “consumables”. In some definitions, the words “product” and “assemblies” or the phrase “product and components” are mentioned in place of “equipment”. The words “discarded”, “end of life” and “dispose/ disposal” are invariably used in definitions to describe “loss of utility” of electrical and electronic equipment. Similarly, words/ phrases “used goods”, “scrap” and “waste” are invariably used to describe “way of disposal”. These words are being used to harmonize WEEE/ E-waste with least disturbance to existing policies regulations, where sometimes it is treated separately or under hazardous or solid waste management.

Source: Central Pollution Control Board