A Gap Analysis in Selected Asian Countries, 3R Knowledge Hub ...

Enormous challenges in developing a sound
material cycle society in Asia is revealed by the
extraordinary emerging waste generation
statistics from the region as it rapidly
industrializes. Unfortunately, this growth is also
accompanied by a corresponding rise in
resource consumption and environmental
degradation. As estimated by the World Bank in
2004, urban authorities in Asia spend 50-70% of
their revenues on waste management and the
effect of neglecting the environment costs an
average of 5% of the GDP.
A recent fact sheet on China’s Environmental
Health Project predicts that Beijing alone will
produce domestic e-waste at an alarming
115,000 tons comprising of 3.6 million old
televisions, refrigerators, washing machines,
computers and air conditioners, and 2.3 billion
mobile phones. It is also expected to exceed
158,000 tons by 2012. China is also expected to
account for 24% of the world steel production
thus leading to a massive growth of the
secondary sectors. These developments have in
many forms, compelled the industries and
responsible parties to sideline environmental
issues.
India on the other hand is equally playing hard.
Data captured through Market Supply Method
for 2004-2005 reveals an estimated market size
of personal computers at 15.4 million, television
sets at 11.7 million, refrigerators at 4.8 million
and washing machines at 1.7 million. The study
also estimates a 25% growth rate of computers
and 15-20% of other items annually.
Accordingly, with respect to the obsolescence
rate and e-waste inventory, domestic e-waste in
India is estimated to be around 146,000 tons and
expected to exceed 1.6 million tons by 2012.
chapter 1
Introduction
Sadly, for both China and India, these figures do
not include e-waste that are shipped from
developed countries. The current pace of
urbanization, the consumerist society and its
waste generation will lead us to a point of no
return, let alone global sustainability and
poverty reduction. This emerging consumer
society has brought forward an enormous
challenge of managing modern waste and
developing a 3R society to the municipal
authorities troubled with issues in waste
management and sanitation.
Junichiro Koizumi, the former Prime Minister of
Japan proposed the 3R Initiative at the G8
Summit held at Sea Island in 2004 and was
endorsed by the G8 leaders. Later that year, the
‘Ministerial Conference’ to formally launch the
3R concepts was held in Tokyo from 28-30 April
2005. The launch is considered as the first step
to change global consumption and production
patterns to build a sound material cycle society.
Since then, there have been significant
developments and awareness on 3R initiatives
in most of the Asian countries.
Although some governments have recently
formulated and incorporated 3R measures and
cleaner production options to tackle the waste
crisis, most of them have been implemented
only in the national capital cities. In rural and
peri-urban areas, urban municipal wastes
generate a steady income despite the risks
involved in treating and down cycling them to
other consumer products. Looking back in time,
Asian societies, especially in the villages, have
been leading a 3R-oriented lifestyle. Traditional
know-how on resource conservation has been
Chapter 1: Introduction
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