Methods for estimating end of life electronics exports from North America

Abstract

The growing demand from developing countriesThe growing demand from developing countries for used electronics, combined with higher recycling fees and wages for electronics disassembly in North America as compared to in developing countries, drives the export of some end of life (EOL) electronics to developing countries. Some exported EOL electronics are reused or recycled formally in factories. Concerns have been raised regarding harm to the health and safety of workers, community members and the local environment in communities engaged in informal recycling of other EOL electronics due to the toxic content of some electronic components, which can be exposed during materials recovery. For the purposes of informing North American laws, positions during international negotiations and best business practices, it would be useful to have estimates of the volume of EOL electronics exported from North American countries. Trade data and comprehensive regulatory tracking data that could easily provide estimates are currently unavailable. for used electronics, combined with higher recycling fees and wages for electronics disassembly in North America as compared to in developing countries, drives the export of some end of life (EOL) electronics to developing countries. Some exported EOL electronics are reused or recycled formally in factories. Concerns have been raised regarding harm to the health and safety of workers, community members and the local environment in communities engaged in informal recycling of other EOL electronics due to the toxic content of some electronic components, which can be exposed during materials recovery. For the purposes of informing North American laws, positions during international negotiations and best business practices, it would be useful to have estimates of the volume of EOL electronics exported from North American countries. Trade data and comprehensive regulatory tracking data that could easily provide estimates are currently unavailable. In this paper, approaches for estimating EOL electronics import, the explicit and implicit method, were presented.