The management of obsolete, unwanted, or nonfunctional electronics equipment is a global problem driven by improving technology and the availability of new and recycled devices along with the toxic materials, resource conservation, and handling/disposal issues at end-of-life. OEMs, consumers, businesses, e-waste management companies, governments, non-profits, and the re-processors all play a role in the lifecycle of electronics equipment.
Consumers have few incentives to reuse or recycle used electronics equipment. In most countries, it is still too easy and relatively inexpensive to throw e-waste in the trash. An optimistic estimate of average recycle rates in about 15%. Inconsistent legislation, minimal controls on the recyclers, and little enforcement has also led to widespread and inappropriate dumping of e-waste in developing countries. Non-profit groups’ activities have brought increased media attention and raised public awareness to the point where changes in approach and attitude of the OEMs, consumers, and recyclers are beginning to have a positive effect on the industry.
This Pike Research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global e-waste landscape including supply chain structures, legislative and regulatory issues, market drivers and inhibitors, and in-depth profiles for key industry players around the world. Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats (SWOT) analysis is included for key sectors of the market. Demand-side analysis features consumer survey results that focus on consumers’ attitudes, behavior, and perceptions with regard to electronics recycling. Additionally, the report includes Pike Research’s granular forecasts for e-waste generation and processing volumes in various regions around the world through 2025.
Key questions addressed:
- Who are the key players worldwide in the e-waste management ecosystem?
- What are the key business models and drivers associated with electronics recycling and end-of-life management?
- What are the estimated volumes of e-waste in terms of “units” (common types) and tons from 2010 to 2025?
- What are the key challenges facing the industry?
- What are the process changes necessary to improve e-waste management?
- What are the behavioral changes necessary to minimize the amount of e-waste and encourage reuse and recycling?
- What are the global political, reporting, and enforcement changes necessary to improve e-waste management?
Who needs this report?
- Electronics manufacturers – OEMs and ODMs
- Non-electronics enterprises trying to reduce their environmental impact
- Semiconductor and component manufacturers
- E-waste recyclers
- Local, state, national, and regional governments
- Environmental and recycling non-profit organizations
- Industry associations
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Market and Business Issues
2.1 Historical Perspective – All Industry and Business Sectors
2.2 The Electronics Industry – Introduction and Summary (1946 to Present)
2.3 Defining the Market for E-Waste
2.4 Government Intervention and Control
2.5 Supply
2.6 Market Demand
2.7 Consumer Attitudes and Behavior
2.7.1 Introduction and Survey Methodology
2.7.2 Consumer Views on Appropriate Management of Old Electronics
2.7.3 Consumer Attitudes about Who Should Pay for Electronics Recycling
2.7.4 Consumers’ Storage of Old Electronics Equipment
2.7.5 Consumers’ Estimated Cost for Electronics Recycling
3. Technology Issues
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Technology
3.3 Certification
3.4 Regional Availability
3.5 Design for the Environment and the First “R”, Reduce
4. Key Industry Players and Competitive Landscape
4.1 Overview
4.2 The Current State of E-Waste Management around the World
4.3 International Organizations
4.3.1 The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)
4.3.2 Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE)
4.3.3 Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA)
4.3.4 Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP)
4.3.5 The G8 3Rs Initiative
4.3.6 Organizational for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
4.4 North America
4.4.1 Canada
4.4.1.1 Government in Canada
4.4.1.2 NGOs in Canada
4.4.1.2.1 Nova Scotia: Atlantic Canada Electronics Stewardship (ACES)
4.4.1.2.2 Alberta: Electronics Recycling Alberta
4.4.1.2.3 Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Environment
4.4.1.2.4 Ontario
4.4.1.2.5 British Columbia: Electronics Stewardship Association of British Columbia
4.4.1.2.6 Manitoba: Sims Recycling
4.4.1.2.7 Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island
4.4.2 United States
4.4.2.1 OEMs in the United States
4.4.2.1.1 Cisco Systems
4.4.2.1.2 Dell
4.4.21.3 Apple
4.4.2.1.4 Hewlett-Packard
4.4.2.1.5 Acer
4.4.2.1.6 Lenovo
4.4.21.7 Gateway
4.4.2.1.8 Manufacturers Recycling Management Co. (MRM)
4.4.2.1.9 LG Electronics
4.4.2.1.10 Epson
4.4.2.1.11 Intel Corp.
4.4.21.12 JVC
4.4.2.1.13 Toshiba
4.4.2.2 Mobile Service Providers and Handset Manufacturers in the United States
4.4.2.2.1 Verizon Wireless
4.4.2.2.2 Sprint Nextel
4.4.2.2.3 Research In Motion (RIM)
4.4.2.2.4 Motorola
4.4.2.2.5 AT&T
4.4.2.3 Retail and Commercial Sales Channels in the United States
4.4.2.3.1 Best Buy
4.4.2.3.2 Staples
4.4.2.3.3 Office Depot
4.4.2.4 E-Waste Management Companies in the United States
4.4.2.4.1 Access Computer
4.4.2.4.2 Electronic Recyclers International (ERI)
4.4.2.4.3 Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX)
4.4.2.4.4 Luminous Electronics Recycling (LER)
4.4.2.4.5 Manufacturers Recycling Management Co. (MRM)
4.4.2.4.6 PC Worldwide
4.4.2.4.7 Techno+Rescue
4.4.2.4.8 LifeSpan Recycling Technologies
4.4.2.4.9 Redemtech
4.4.2.4.10 AER Worldwide
4.4.2.4.11 California Electronic Asset Recovery (CEAR)
4.4.2.4.12 Waste Management Recycle America (WMRA)
4.4.2.4.13 E-World Recyclers
4.4.2.4.14 National Recycling Network
4.4.2.4.15 PlastiCycle Corp.
4.4.2.4.16 US Postal Service
4.4.2.5 Consumers in the United States
4.4.2.6 Businesses in the United States
4.4.2.6.1 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)
4.4.2.7 Government in the United States
4.4.2.8 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4.4.2.9 California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
4.4.2.10 City of Loveland, Colorado – Solid Waste Management Department
4.4.2.11 State-Specific E-Waste Management Regulations in the United States
4.4.2.12 Advocates in the United States: NGOs and Non-Profits
4.4.2.12.1 Introduction
4.4.2.12.2 Basel Action Network (BAN)
4.4.2.12.3 Electronics TakeBack Coalition (ETBC)
4.4.2.12.4 Greenpeace
4.4.2.12.5 Earth911
4.4.2.12.6 National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER)
4.4.2.12.7 Green Electronics Council (GEC)
4.4.2.12.8 E-cycling Central
4.4.2.12.9 Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC)
4.4.2.12.10 Californians Against Waste (CAW)
4.4.2.12.11 World Reuse, Repair, and Recycling Association (WR3A)
4.4.2.13 Re-Processors in the United States
4.4.2.13.1 Summary
4.4.2.14 Industry Associations in the United States
4.4.2.14.1 Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
4.4.2.14.2 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI)
4.4.2.14.3 National Recycling Coalition (NRC)
4.4.2.14.4 International Association of Information Technology Managers (IAITAM)
4.4.2.14.5 Reverse Logistics Association (RLA)
4.4.3 Mexico
4.4.3.1 E-Waste Management Companies in Mexico
4.4.3.2 Government in Mexico
4.4.3.3 NGOs in Mexico
4.5 European Union
4.5.1 OEMs in the EU
4.5.1.1 Royal Philips Electronics
4.5.2 Telecom/Mobile Service Providers and Handset Manufacturers in the EU
4.5.2.1 British Telecom
4.5.2.1.1 BT Profile
4.5.2.2 Vodafone
4.5.2.2.1 Vodafone Profile
4.5.2.3 Sony Ericsson
4.5.2.4 Nokia
4.5.2.5 Telenor
4.5.3 E-Waste Management Companies in the EU
4.5.3.1 Sims Recycling Solutions
4.5.3.2 Immark House (E-Waste Management)
4.5.4 Government in the EU
4.5.4.1 EU’s WEEE Directive, December 2008, Amendment Proposal
4.5.5 NGOs in the EU
4.5.5.1 Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
4.5.5.2 European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
4.5.5.3 The International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec)
4.5.5.4 Clean Production Action (CPA)
4.5.6 Industry Associations in the EU
4.5.6.1 European Information and Communications Technology Association (EICTA)
4.5.6.2 Association of Electrical and Electronic Waste Take-Back Systems (WEEE Forum
4.5.6.3 European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA)
4.5.6.4 SWICO
4.5.6.5 SENS
4.5.6.6 SLRS
4.5.6.7 INOBAT
4.6 Rest of World
4.6.1 OEMs in New Zealand
4.6.1.1 Telecom
4.6.1.2 Hewlett-Packard
4.6.1.3 Dell
4.6.1.4 IBM
4.6.1.5 LG Electronics
4.6.2 E-Waste Management Companies in Rest of World
4.6.2.1 Sims E-Recycling, Australia
4.6.2.2 MRI (Aust) Pty Ltd., Australia
4.6.2.3 EnviroServe/EnviroFone, United Arab Emirates
4.6.2.4 Piranha International, Trinidad, West Indies
4.6.2.5 India
4.6.2.5.1 Eco Recycling Ltd. (Ecoreco)
4.6.2.5.2 Attero
4.6.2.5.3 Electronics Corp. of India
4.6.2.6 Integrated Recycling Industries (IRI), Philippines
4.6.2.7 Lenovo, China
4.6.2.8 Super Dragon Technology Co., Ltd., Taiwan
4.6.2.9 E&E Recycling
4.6.2.10 Africa
4.6.2.10.1 South Africa
4.6.3 NGOs in Rest of World
4.6.3.1 Emirates Environmental Group (EEG)
4.6.3.2 E-Waste Association of South Africa
4.6.4 Government in Rest of World
4.6.4.1 Australia
4.6.4.2 New Zealand
4.6.4.3 Japan
4.6.4.4 South Korea
4.6.4.5 Taiwan
4.6.4.6 India
4.6.4.7 Brazil
4.6.4.8 Argentina
4.6.4.9 Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Other Countries in South and Central America
5. Market Forecasts
5.1 Introduction, Sources, and Assumptions
5.2 Market Characterization
5.3 Reference Point
5.4 Definitions
5.5 Summary
6. Company Directory
7. Acronym and Abbreviation List
8. Table of Contents
9. Table of Figures
10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes
Table of Charts and Figures
- Consumer Views on Appropriate Management of Old Electronics
- Consumer Attitudes about Who Should Pay for Electronics Recycling
- Consumers’ Storage of Old Electronics Equipment
- Consumers’ Estimated Cost for Electronics Recycling
- Open and Closed Loop Systems
- Discarded Materials and Diversion Processes
- High-Level Process Flow Diagram
- Current and Planned E-Waste Management Regulations by U.S. State
- E-Waste Market Drivers
- E-Waste Management SWOT Analysis
- E-Waste Market Supply SWOT Analysis
- E-Waste Market Demand SWOT Analysis
- Members of the Interim Group of PACE
- Techno+Rescue SWOT Analysis
- Permitted Hazardous Waste Landfills in the United States
- Summary of Mandatory Electronics Recovery Programs by U.S. State
- Immark House SWOT Analysis
- Summary of RoHS and WEEE Implementation in Europe
- EnviroServe/EnviroFone SWOT Analysis
- Piranha International SWOT Analysis
- Ecoreco SWOT Analysis
- Government Implementation of RoHS and WEEE – Rest of World
- Summary of E-Waste Forecasts: 2010-2025
- World Internet Statistics and Population Estimates at December 21, 2008
- Per Capita Estimates for Cell Phone Subscribers, Internet Users, and PCs, 2010
Table of Tables
- Summary of E-Waste Forecasts: 2010-2025
- Global Demographics and Representative Electronic Products Distribution Rates
- Relative Purchasing Power Parity by Global Region
- Projected Units of E-Waste Generated Based on Population Growth and Poverty Levels in North America: 2008-2025
- Projected Units of E-Waste Generated Based on Population Growth and Poverty Levels in Western Europe: 2008-2025
- Projected Units of E-Waste Generated Based on Population Growth and Poverty Levels in Asia Pacific: 2008-2025
- Projected Units of E-Waste Generated Based on Population Growth and Poverty Levels in Rest of World: 2008-2025
- Projected Units of E-Waste Generated Based on Population Growth and Poverty Levels Worldwide: 2008-2025
- E-Waste Generation as a Percent of Municipal Solid Waste, OECD Countries: 1990-2025
- Estimated Sales of TVs, Cell Phones, and Computers, United States: 2007-2025
- Electronic Products – Projected Units & Tons Ready for End-of-Life Management: 2008-2025
- End-of-Life Electronics Sent for Recycling: 1999-2025
- Projected Quantity of Unused Electronics in Storage: 2007-2025
