National College of Business

Administration & Economics

Lahore

POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTRIC AND

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WASTE (WEEE)

MANAGEMENT APPLYING SYSTEM ACTIVITY

MODELING

BY

SAFDAR SHAH KHAN

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

IN

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

JANUARY, 2014

i

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION & ECONOMICS

POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTRIC AND

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WASTE (WEEE)

MANAGEMENT APPLYING SYSTEM ACTIVITY

MODELING

BY

SAFDAR SHAH KHAN

A dissertation submitted to

School of Business Administration

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

IN

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

January, 2014

ii

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION & ECONOMICS,

LAHORE

POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WASTE (WEEE)

MANAGEMENT APPLYING SYSTEM ACTIVITY MODELING

BY

SAFDAR SHAH KHAN

A dissertation submitted to School of Business Administration, in

partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPY IN

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Dissertation Committee:

_______________________ Chairman

_______________________ Member

_______________________ Member

________________________________

Rector

National College of Business

Administration & Economics

iii

DECLARATION

This is to certify that this research work has not been submitted for

obtaining similar degree from any other college/university.

SAFDAR SHAH KHAN

January, 2014

iv

RESEARCH COMPLETION CERTIFICATE

Certified that the research work contained in this thesis entitled “Policy

Framework for Electric and Electronic Equipment Waste (WEEE)

Management Applying System Activity Modeling” has been carried out and

completed by “Safdar Shah Khan” under my supervision during his Ph.D. in

Environmental Management program.

(Prof. Dr. Suleman Aziz Lodhi) (Prof. Dr. Irshad Khokar)

Supervisor Supervisor

v

DEDICATED

TO

My Family

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The research presented in this thesis simply would not have been

completed without the guidance, encouragement and wisdom of my supervisor,

advisor and mentor, Prof. Dr. Irshad Khokar and Prof. Dr. Suleman Aziz Lodhi.

Prof. Lodhi has stimulated my interest in the rich fields of Environmental

Management while providing perspective, insight and sage advice at several

critical junctures along the way. His cheerful nature, sparkling wit and unending

generosity have made this experience a truly enjoyable one.

I would like to acknowledge several members of the National College of

Business Administration & Economics, Lahore (NCBA&E), Prof. Dr. Munir

Ahmad, Rector, NCBA&E, Prof. Dr. Khalil Ahmed, Director Research and Dr.

Mahmood Khalid Qamar, Department of Environment Management, who have

shaped my understanding of the domain through several helpful discussions.

Special thanks are due to Mr. Arshad Zubair and Mr. Sarder Ghauyyas,

custom officers and other team members of the custom department, who

provided me the data on WEEE and make useful discussion on different issues

related to WEEE such as imports and Afghan trade system.

It is necessary to mention names of several individuals residing outside

institution for their part in this research. I am especially grateful to my friends,

Dostain Khan, Sardar Khan Bugti, Fateh Muhammad Khajjak and other

colleagues who remained a constant source of mental and moral inspiration

during the preparation of this research work.

Finally, I am truly grateful for having such a wonderful family, Parents,

wife, sisters and cousins; who have provided a positive environment filled with

direction, encouragement, motivation and love that give me the confidence and

determination to realize my dreams.

vii

SUMMARY

With the development of information and communication technology, the

usage of the electric and electronic equipment has infiltrated every aspect of our

daily lives and its growth has enhanced exponentially. The new technology

based electronic products are cheap, fancy and are easy to use; providing our

society with more comfort and security. The constant technological innovations,

coupled with a growing consumerism, accelerate the frequent replacement of

these products and consequently producing Waste of Electric and Electronic

Equipment (WEEE). WEEE has the most spectacular growth rate among the

entire quantity of solid waste generated; it is one of the most complicated waste

streams in terms of its materials composition, making it very difficult to be

managed effectively.

In view of the environmental impact resulting from WEEE, developed

countries have established national legislation to improve the environmental

conditions by applying appropriate WEEE management strategies. Excessive

quantities of WEEE from developed countries are exported to developing

countries. The developing countries especially in Asia and Africa do not have

enough resources for effective management of WEEE. The unregulated and

unsafe WEEE management practices in these regions let hazardous materials to

disseminate into the environment, contaminating the global ecosystem.

Presently Pakistan has no WEEE management policy and the current

practices of WEEE management suffer from a number of drawbacks like the

difficulty in documentation, lack of inventory, unhealthy working conditions in

recycling process, inadequate legislation and implementation of law, poor

awareness among general public and reluctance by government on part of the

corporate to address the critical issues.

The research presents an analysis of current WEEE situation in Pakistan

based on WEEE import in the country for the last five years. The theoretical

foundation of the study is based on activity theory, which is applied as a major

problem solving approach. The investigation starts with developing the problem

model to identify the present issues faced by Pakistan. Then based on the

problem model the solution model is framed to give the possible solution of the

issues. Finally policy framework is proposed to implement the solution model,

giving strategic initiatives in the shape of roles and responsibilities of the

stakeholders.

viii

The results of the study indicate that more than 300,000 tons of WEEE

was imported within the period of 2007-2011, out of 79% were computer related

items, 10% were audio video devices, 7% fridges and 4% were television sets.

WEEE in Pakistan does not have exclusively designed management structure; it

flows from source to sink usually blended with the general waste derived from

the entire socio-economic activity. The policy framework for WEEE legislation

and initiatives intended to help manage these growing quantities of WEEE.

Finally the study presented a framework for WEEE management and

strategic policy initiatives; defining the roles for;

(a) The government

(b) Manufacturers and Importers

(c) Consumer community

The WEEE policy framework will helps Pakistan in preserving, protecting

and improving the quality of the environment; it will also safeguard the lands of

Pakistan to become the dumping ground of WEEE for the developed countries.

The policy approach of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is being

propagated as a paradigm in WEEE management. The EPR uses financial

incentives to encourage manufacturers to design environmentally-friendly

products by holding producers responsible for the costs of managing their

products at end of life. The scheme of EPR approach is applied in view of the

Pakistan specific prospective. The policy framework will chalk out strategic plan

to manage the problem of WEEE in an eco-friendly manner to create

environmental awareness.

ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DECLARATION

RESEARCH COMPLETION CERTIFICATE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

SUMMARY

iii

iv

v

vi

vii

LIST OF FIGURE xi

LIST OF TABLE xii

LIST OF ABBREVIATION xii

Chapter-1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Defining EEE and WEEE 2

1.3 Differentiating from other Types of Waste 3

1.4 WEEE Disposal a Global Problem 4

1.5 Flow of WEEE to Developing Countries 4

1.6 Significance of the Problem 6

1.7 WEEE Concerns for Pakistan 6

1.8 Research Question 7

1.9 Objectives of the Study 8

1.10 Research Methodology 8

Chapter-2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.1 Studies on Developed Countries 10

2.2 Studies on Developing Countries 13

2.3 Policy Framework of Developed Countries on

WEEE 16

2.3.1 Policy Framework of USA 16

2.3.2 Policy Framework of European Union 18

2.3.3 Policy Framework of Japan 20

2.4 Concluding the Literature Review 21

x

Chapter-3: PROBLEM MODELING: WEEE

ACTIVITY MAPPING FOR

PAKISTAN

23

3.1 Theoretical Foundation 23

3.1.1 Activity Theory 23

3.1.2 System Activity Modeling 27

3.2 WEEE Data Analysis for Pakistan 28

3.2.1 WEEE Dynamics in Pakistan 30

3.3 Problem Modeling: WEEE Activity Mapping for

Pakistan 37

3.4 Solution Modeling: System Activity Mapping for

Pakistan 42

Chapter-4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 51

4.1 Philosophical Foundation of the Study 51

4.1.1 Uses of Activity Theory 52

4.1.2 Methodological Implications for Activity

Theory 53

4.1.3 Activity Theory in Policy Formation 54

4.2 Research Paradigm 55

4.2.1 Interviews 56

4.3 Research Road Map 56

4.4 Ethical Consideration 58

Chapter-5: WEEE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR

PAKISTAN 59

5.1 WEEE Strategic Policy Initiative for Pakistan 59

5.1.1 Knowledge Awareness 60

5.1.2 Knowledge Building 60

5.1.3 Knowledge Deployment 61

5.2 WEEE System Management Strategies 61

5.2.1 Government Role 62

5.2.2 The Role of Producers, Industries and

Importers & Manufacturer 66

5.2.3 Consumer Role 68

5.2.3.1 Consumers Role in Utilization 68

5.2.3.2 Consumers Role In Purchasing 69

xi

5.2.3.3 Consumers Role In Disposing 70

5.3 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 72

Chapter-6: CONCLUSION AND FUTURE

DIRECTIONS 75

6.1 Conclusion 75

6.2 Future Directions 76

REFERENCES 78

APPENDICES 97

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig.

No.

Title Page

No.

1.1 Reasons of flow of WEEE to developing Countries 5

2.1 Management framework End of life strategy United State 17

2.2 Management framework End of life strategy European Union 19

2.3 Management framework for end of life strategy Japan 20

3.1 The structure of human activity (Engeström et.al, 1999) 24

3.2 Hierarchical nature of activity (Engeström et.al, 1999). 25

3.3 Used Computer set import to Pakistan 31

3.4 Used Computer system (incomplete) import to Pakistan 31

3.5 Used Computer Printers import to Pakistan 32

3.6 Used Laptop import to Pakistan 33

3.7 Used Refrigerator import to Pakistan 33

3.8 Used Television import to Pakistan 34

3.9 Used Audio Video devices import to Pakistan 35

3.10 Total WEEE import to Pakistan in five years 35

3.11 WEEE in Pakistan from 2007-2011 36

3.12 Problem Modeling: WEEE Activity Mapping for Pakistan 41

3.13 Proposed WEEE System Activity Diagram 43

3.13 Solutio Solution Modeling for WEEE Management in Pakistan 49

4.1 Systematic flow of Research Methodology 55

5.1 WEEE Management Policy Frame Work For Pakistan 71

xiii

LIST OF TABLES

Table

No Title

Page

No.

1 WEEE/ e-waste definitions. 2

2 Import of WEEE assessment for the years 2007-

2011 in Quantity

29

3 Import of WEEE assessment for the years 2007-

2011 in tons

30

LIST OF ABBREVIATION

ABS Acrylonitrile - Butadiene - Styrene

CRT Cathode ray tube

DfE Design for Environment

EC European Community

EEE Electric and Electronic Equipments

EoL End of life

EPRs Extended Producer Responsibilities

I/C Information/ Communication

I T Information Technology

LCD Liquid crystal display

OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

OEMs Original Equipment Manufacturers

R&D Research and Development

RoHS Restriction of Hazardous Substances

SACEP South Asian Cooperative Environment Program

SteP Stopping the e-waste Problem

UNEPA United Nation Environmental Protection Agency

US DoC United States Department of Commerce

WEEE Waste for Electric and Electronic Equipments

REACH Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals

UK DTI United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industries

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

The ecosphere in which the human resides has been affected by the act of

mother-nature and human. Early civilization was living in a pure environment

and did not know the problems associated with contamination and

environmental degradations. The surface layer of the earth‟s crust has provided

sustenance to mankind, since times immemorial. His health and food is now

undergoing a very critical modification due to the human exploitation of the

environment (Abul, 2010; Gouveia and Prado, 2010). Prevailing indication

shows that the environmental conditions have worsen vividly in the last 100

years. Factors related to globalization, Industrialization etc. are heralded as the

basis for the modern environmental crises. (Godlee and Walker, 1992; De-Blij

and Peter, 1996; Khan, 2011; Graça, 2012).

Prevailing and uncontrolled industrialization throughout the world is

always accompanied by grave consequences for the environment. This is due to

the fact that the material gain of manufacturers and the raise of living standards

of consumers are always the prime objectives of the industrialists (Hanneberg,

1992; Kiely, 1996; Ladou and Lovegrove, 2008). Modern technologies, coming

in the form of gadgets and devices, add new dimensions to man‟s life and

promise betterment in life but this is at the cost of introducing new

environmental disruption (Lovejoy, 1995; Cedric and Jaco, 2011).

Environmental impurities have far-reaching apprehensions that are not

immediately known and also difficult to forecast (Asase et.al, 2009). A

tremendous cost is also related for pollution-cleanup and prevention process.

Besides effect on frugality, health and natural resources, the contaminations also

have social consequence. (Goldsmith, 1986; Repetto, 1990; Lindberg, 1991,

Cortese, 1993; Gullett et al., 2007; Caravanos et al., 2011; Adaramondu et al.,

2012).

Assortments of environmental problems in the recent decades are

associated with the modern developments. Along with new technologies and

improvements in living life styles that result in the increase generation of

WEEE; non-biodegradable waste, the after effects of WEEE were previously

unknown. The emerging life style due to the modern technological development

2

have place unsustainable pressure on natural resources also (Clark and Munn,

1986; Pramila et al., 2012).

1.2 DEFINING EEE AND WEEE

The electronics, telecommunications and information technology are the

world‟s major and fastest growing engineering manufacturing units. The

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is defined as those Equipments

which consume electric charge or electromagnetic fields for its operational

procedures (Perrine and Susanne, 2009).

The precise definition and usage of the term WEEE differs from country

to country depending upon the indigenous legal system (Adediran and

Abdulkarim, 2012). Commonly used definitions in international scenario are

given in Table-1.

The general perception of the term Waste Electrical and Electronic

Equipment (WEEE) is that of discarded old computers or computer networking

equipment, which is, however, a misconception. Any equipment or device which

satisfies any of the above stated definitions can be regarded as WEEE.

Alternative terminologies for WEEE are e-scrap, e-junk and e-trash, end-of-life

(EoL), and e-waste are used synonymously.

Table-1

WEEE/ e-waste definitions

Definition in European Union Directive

“Waste electrical and electronic equipment, including all components,

subassemblies and consumables which are part of the product at the time of

discarding” Source: Georgios et al., 2009; Sushant et al., 2010

Definition from OECD

“Any household appliance consuming electricity and reaching its life cycle end.”

Source: Georgios et al., 2009; Sushant et al., 2010

Definition by Researcher

“Those electrical and electronic equipment/devices/products that connect with

power plugs or use batteries which have become outdated/obsolete due to

advances in technology or changes in fashion, style, and status and are nearing

the end of their useful life” Source: (Widmer et al., 2005).

3

The three major categories under which the WEEE can be classified:

white goods, brown goods, and grey goods. The equipments falls under white

goods comprises of household appliances like coolers fridges, washing

machines, air-conditioners, and dishwashers. „Brown goods‟ are entertainment

devices such as small screens, still and movie cameras, camcorders etc. „Grey

goods‟ include computers, computer related equipments, laser or inkjet printers,

facsimile machines etc. The recycling processes for grey goods are complex due

to their toxic ingredients composition (Sinha, 2007; Chalwla and Jain, 2012).

1.3 DIFFERENTIATING FROM OTHER TYPES OF WASTE

WEEE is Distinguish from other category of waste due to the various

components it is equipped with during manufacturing. Electrical and electronic

devices contain significant proportions of substances that pose hazards to human

health if not disposed-off properly (Scheutz et al., 2004; Deng et al., 2007;

Ajeet, 2012). Hazardous elements that are used in the manufacturing of

electronic equipments are mercury, lead, and hexavalent chromium that are

placed in cathode ray tubes, Integrated circuits boards, inductors, capacitors and

relays, liquid or dry batteries, liquid crystal display screens, printer‟s cartridges,

selenium drums and electrolytes. Lead constitutes up to 35% metal inside

monitors and televisions while various other heavy metals make up the

remaining 65%. Other toxicants that can be found in electronic equipments are

10% of brominated flame retardants and 1-2% antimony oxide also as flame

retardant. Printed circuit boards are a fundamental component of all electronic

devices, containing components soldered through lead – a hazardous metal (Devi

et al., 2004). Besides that, some WEEE products also have Cadmium based

rechargeable batteries, which when burned in fireboxes or throw in the landfills,

can pollute the environment. A small cadmium phone‟s battery can have the

potential to intoxicate 600 meter cube of water (Envocare, 2001). The ratio of

cadmium quantity are getting higher at land fill sites that generate and have an

inevitable moderate to long range effects into soil and water resources (Cui and

Forssberg, 2003; Bhutta et al., 2011).

These toxins enclose in heavy metals can leach into the soil or enter the

water from landfills, evaporate into the air through incineration can lead to the

percolating of hazardous substances into the environment (Ramachandra and

Saira, 2004; Sushant et al., 2011). If this massive amount of toxins present in

WEEE were passed into the municipal waste, it could result in severe

environmental and health degradation (Sepúlveda et al., 2009; Chen et al.,

2011).

4

1.4 WEEE DISPOSALS AS A GLOBAL PROBLEM

All over the world, WEEE has the most significant growth rate among

other types of wastes produced (USEPA, 2007). It is assessed that the global

production of WEEE lies between 20 to 50 million tons (UNEPA, 2009) which

is 2% of the total quantity of solid waste in the world (Ciocoiu et al., 2010). An

alarming growth rate of waste is recorded in European Union countries where 5

to 7 million tons of WEEE is generated each year. For every five year period, the

growth of WEEE in EU is increasing at a rate of 16% - 28%, that is equivalent to

three times the municipal waste produced per year (UN University 2008).

Similarly in America, the number of outmoded goods kept or cast-off is

currently growing at frightening figures, out of 3 million WEEE products

currently owned in America, only 18% of are recycled while the rest 82% are

disposed in landfills or transported to developing countries (Luther, 2010). The

strict laws, high environmental standards, awareness of environmental issues in

general public, high economical cost for recycling and WEEE disposal, as well

as the scarcity of land for landfills sites are some of the factors that compel the

developed nations to dispose their WEEE to rest of the world (Borthaku and

Singh, 2012).

1.5 FLOW OF WEEE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The primary reasons of WEEE influx in developing countries are

environmental laws that are lax or absent, lower environmental standards, cheap

labor, and lack of awareness of general public about the hazards associated with

WEEE. The developing countries do not have the necessary infrastructure or

effective legislation to avert the hazards stemming from poor WEEE

management. In these countries laws dealing with WEEE are not strictly applied

to control the WEEE movement.

Some of the dynamic factors of WEEE flow from developed countries to

developing countries are summarized in Figure-1.1

5

Figure-1.1: Reasons of flow of WEEE to developing Countries

Source: compiled

Every field such as trade, commerce, education, health, welfare

institutions, and households are affected by WEEE in the developing countries.

Since the electronic goods are commonly affordable, the quantity of electronic

products in the society has increased exponentially and WEEE has infiltrated all

aspects of daily life to provide comfort, health, and security (Priyadharshini and

Meenambal, 2011). Computer is one of the examples that has penetrated in

every field of life and is also available to the underprivileged class, raising

standards of living.

Economic factors also play a significant role in forcing a government to

turn a blind eye to WEEE issues. The unregulated WEEE business in developing

countries is a source of income for many; there are strong financial interests that

create an informal sector in the third world countries, which poses a challenge in

the enforcement of WEEE regulations. The vested interests of unskilled labor to

earn income through reusing or recycling the WEEE items are the primary

factors driving the uncontrolled movement of WEEE also (Chi et al., 2011).

Reasons of flow of WEEE to developing Countries

High

illiterate

workforce

Cheap and

unskilled

Labours

Legislation

Factors

Lax laws,

lower

environment

al standards

Economic

Factors

Poverty

High

Competition

in Market

Forces

Lack of

technology

labour

incentives

Waste

recycling

Encourage the developed nations to export WEEE to

developing Nations

6

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM

Due to high-tech revolution the under developed countries are facing new

forthcoming danger. The lack of recycling facilities for WEEE items mean that

the problem is exacerbating day by day because the discarded electronic and

electrical items are subject to no further treatment in the household waste (Ladou

and Lovegrove, 2008). The main dumping areas of Western electronic junk are

developing countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam, Nigeria,

Sudan, Philippines etc. and so on taking in up to 80% of the WEEE dump

(Schmidt, 2006). A report by SACEP gives the estimation that the dumping of

WEEE had increased by 125% in Pakistan, 97.3% in India and 37% in

Bangladesh since 1991 (SACEP, 2007). Today Pakistan, India, Philippines,

China, Sri-lanka, and Bangladesh are among the most favorite global

destinations of WEEE dumping (SACEP, 2007). Slack environmental policies of

these countries play a pivotal role in transferring of WEEE to these countries

which causes degradation of the local environment (Cobbing, 2008; Townsend,

2011). WEEE of developed countries is being dumped in developing countries

and very soon these countries may become junkyard of obsolete electric and

electronic items. If the WEEE issue is not addressed in time and its

consequences are not given proper attention unfavorable and severe future

environmental circumstances have to be expected.

1.7 WEEE CONCERNS FOR PAKISTAN

There is no available record detailing the reselling, recycling, or dumping

of the used electronic equipment imported in Pakistan. Literature review

suggests that no scientific study has been undertaken to this day to assess the

damage that WEEE has caused to environment. An article by Khushnood in

2009 reported that Pakistan was being used as a dumping site for over 50,000

tons of WEEE every year, he points to the severity of associated environmental

and health hazards (khushnood, 2009).

In Pakistan the WEEE is imported without any prerequisite checking and

sorting is done only after the delivery of import orders is taken in Pakistan, it

turns out that only a small percentage of computers or electronic items imported,

i.e. 15 to 40 percent, are usable the rest; which is more than 60% are junk.

Recycling and disposal of WEEE in Pakistan is a serious issue because of its

rudimentary treatment methods. In practice, once the machines or usable parts in

working order have been sorted out at warehouses, the bulk of the remaining

consignment is sent to the recycling industry where women and children are

7

employed in recycle these WEEE goods placed in depositories. The working

conditions in which the labour forces work are inhumane and they are

continuously exposed to toxic fumes from burning hardware (SACEP, 2007).

Most WEEE recycling in Pakistan is carried out in an undisciplined

manner and utilizes significant manpower. The majority of labor force is

illiterate and lacks any awareness on WEEE issue. Most importantly, they have

no cost effective technology for WEEE management. A suitable mechanism

needs to be worked out to incorporate unorganized small scale units and

organized large scale units into a single value chain. A holistic approach would

be required to address the challenges faced by Pakistan in WEEE management.

The WEEE issue has not received attention from government and non-

governmental environmental organizations in the country. Apart from that, the

private sector also lacks the necessary skills and resources to meet the WEEE

challenge of this complexity and magnitude.

Even though Pakistan is not yet a major WEEE dumping site in the world,

the situation is expected to change in the upcoming times. It is feared that, due to

strict legislations in effect throughout the developed world, a ban on WEEE

exports in China and India, the WEEE brokers will try to find new markets to

dump the ever increasing WEEE garbage. Consequently, the WEEE influx to

Pakistan will grow exponentially, at a much higher rate than ever before and

Pakistan will become a country most affected by WEEE pollution in the world.

Presently, Pakistan is unprepared to face the WEEE management challenge;

therefore, Pakistan needs a policy to mitigate the environmental damage caused

by WEEE.

1.8 RESEARCH QUESTION

The core issue of this study is to design a policy framework for the

management of WEEE, which is emerging as an environmental issue of the

twenty-first century, and poses major threats to the environment for Pakistan in

the future. The issue can be posed in terms of a question as follows:

What policy interventions are needed at strategic level for

appropriate management of WEEE?

8

1.9 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. Propose state policy guidelines for WEEE management in Pakistan,

specifying the following;

i. Role of Government

ii. Role of Industries/ Importers/ Manufacturers

iii. Role of Consumers

2. Develop flowchart for information exchange on WEEE at the national

level.

i. Inland Generation

ii. Import of WEEE

iii. Exports

1.10 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

With the nature of research kept in mind, it was decided to use “Mix

Method” research methodology because it facilitates in mutually analyzing both

the qualitative and quantitative approaches simultaneously during various stages

of research process (Jonson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004; 2007). Use of mixed

methods in social and behavioural research help informed decisions and

extended understandings (Reichardt and Rallis, 1994). An obvious advantage of

utilizing mixed method paradigm in this research is the facilitation of in depth

analysis of the challenges hindering proper management of WEEE products.

The speculative basis of the study is based on activity theory. Activity

theory has been proposed as one of the possible approach to solve the problems

of developing collaborative and interactive systems (Crawford and Hasan, 2006;

Zurita and Nussbaum, 2007). The Activity theory strengthens the thesis to

effectively handle the issues in designing sustainable WEEE management flows.

In this thesis, Covert Observational Research technique (or field research)

is also utilized. In covert Observation technique direct observation is applied

without disturbing the natural background in the field or the researcher observes

the situation from a distance without identifying himself. The activities of

WEEE movement in various cities of Pakistan were monitored through Covert

9

Observational Research technique. The observation involves watching, listing,

describing, analyzing, and interpreting the situations in the flow of WEEE.

Unstructured interviews were conducted for exploration of the idea and to

gain in-depth understanding of the particular WEEE phenomenon in Pakistan.

Interview is one of the most appropriate technique, when working within an

interpretive research paradigm. Unstructured interviews were conducted with

various stakeholders involved in the trading of WEEE. That includes

government custom officers; field staff appointed on the check posts, custom

officers working in the main office and shop keepers; dealing in new and old

products.

The research work was broken down into various steps, with the first one

being multidisciplinary literature review of the theoretical aspects of WEEE

management. The literature analysis employed aspects of the Grounded Theory

approach (Glaser, 2004). It covered the research previously conducted by others

in the domain as well as the analysis of related scientific investigations to

identify the theoretical underpinnings. The initial review was conducted by

deep-down study of the policies of the developed and developing countries.

Meta-narrative approach was used to synthesize the evidence in understanding

the complex policy-making issues.

In the second step, present activity flow or the end-of-life process for

Pakistan was developed. The mapped activity showed the traditional hierarchy

of waste management starting from import to reuse, refurbishment,

remanufacturing, recycling, recovery, cannibalization and finally the end of

product‟s life by dumping disposing of in landfills.

The third stage was to collect, compile, and compare data. Grounded

theory and other qualitative approaches were used for developing the strategic

framework. The import of WEEE in Pakistan was considered and WEEE

volumes were calculated. The prevailing WEEE flow at the national level was

also examined and mapped. Since there exists little data and printed literature on

WEEE in Pakistan, most of the information in the study was acquired through

examination of documents and official statistics from Pakistan Customs

Department.

Lastly, the Grounded Theory approach was applied again to fulfill the

primary objective of the research, which is the development and proposal of

Policy Framework for WEEE management, by defining rules and roles for the

community comprising of government, consumers, industrialist, exporters,

importers, and manufacturers.

10

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

The contemporary research and scientific understandings in the field of

WEEE management both in developed and developing countries is briefly

discussed in this chapter. Since the WEEE management problem has unearthed

in recent times, researches focusing on WEEE are at its early stages. However

the development progress of different models and polices are under way to

handle this problem. This chapter deals with the basic to conservative waste

management strategies and policy models that are implemented in Europe,

America and Japan are concisely reviewed. Studies on situation in developing

countries are also visited for the management of WEEE. The chapter also

addresses the disclosure of research activities in the field and to contextualise the

thesis work into an already identified research gap.

2.1 STUDIES ON DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Babu (Babu et al., 2007) describes that ICT industries are one of the rapid

growing manufacturing industries in United States. The demand for consumer

goods increases in term of consumption and production due to the rapid

economic growth and globalization of the world. Estimation given by UN

University in 2008 that WEEE covers 1% up to three percent of municipal waste

produced each year in United State. The study conducted by US EPA in 2008,

indicates that 2.25 million tons of electronic equipments like cell phones, small

screens, and computers goods were kept for final management. Out of 18%

0.414 million tons) were sent to the recycling industries and 82% (1.84 million

tons) were either deposited in landfill sites or exported to the developing

countries for further reuse and processing. An estimate by EPA (2009) indicates

that from 1980 to 2007 approximately 235 million units of electronic products

were sold they now became obsolete and are kept in storage, waiting for

management.

A presentation in US Congress (Luther, 2010) compiled by USEPA reports

2009 states that in WEEE recycling and disposal there occurs many challenges,

such as Inventory, knowledge about complete assessment of how WEEE is

ultimately managed. Recycling is more costly in USA than other countries.

Further the report points out that majority of the most punters that deals in

electronics products in USA and provided the assurance for material recovery

11

from recycled electronics, have shifted to foreign countries. Therefore the

collected WEEE products were transported for treatment to developing countries

in Asia or Africa like India, Pakistan and China.

The Documents like NCER and NERC (2010), NEPSI (2002), US DoC

2006 and UNEPA (2006) provide some management guidelines to WEEE

operators at the local level. The guidelines deal with the products such as bottles,

cans etc., traditional forms of recycling process are easy to handle. According to

Wu (Wu, 2005) and others (Savage et al., 2006; Arcadis, 2007), indicates that

commonly traditional recycling products are made of single material therefore

they are easier, less costly and convenient to recycle as compared with the

complex WEEE products. Different program approaches were also applied in

US for the management of WEEE. In Ohio EPA (2004) program for mandatory

drop-off recycling programs, the participation and performance provides useful

standards for the participatory public. But according to Nixon (Nixon et al.,

2007) and Bohr (Bohr, 2007) such studies may increase the WEEE recycling

participation rates, but are not cost effective.

Remedial policies are presented by Shinkuma and Huong (Shinkuma and

Huong, 2009) which aims to control the costs effective‟s methods for recycling

and to promote R & D activities in the field of development, promote efficiency

and introduced low-contaminant recycling facilities in the US. In others studies

(Huang et al., 2011; Al-Salem et al., 2009; Tuncuk et al., 2012; Adrados et al.,

2012; Jing-ying et al., 2012) they discusses the inefficient plastic recycling,

which causes several important negative externalities arising from the

consumption and disposal of plastics material is described. They suggest

legislation and suggest that increased research is needed at all levels to deal with

negative externalities and to achieve environmental sustainability.

Similarly, Management of WEEE in European Union is also a serious

problem. Reports by European Commission in (2006) and Step report (2009)

regarding the management of WEEE indicates that the generation of WEEE in

European Union is 14-15 kg/capita/year. Therefore each year in European Union

extra space are generated for 5 and 7 million tons for WEEE management.

Savage (Savage et al., 2006) and UN University (2008) studies on WEEE further

indicates that from 2005 onwards the growth of registered quantities on waste

indicates that in every five years WEEE is growing at a rate of 16-28%, meaning

three time more than the average growth rate of the municipal garbage quantities

generated every year. A report by EPA 2009 states that in EU, about 234.6

million units are in storage waiting for their proper EoL management. In EU,

after exporting WEEE to the developing countries, the remaining 90 % of

WEEE is used in landfilled, burned in fire box or recovered without any

12

pretreatment. This allows the heavy metals and toxic substances; to make their

way into the bionetwork where they pose a risk to human health and cause

serious environmental and ecological damage. Steubing (Steubing et al., 2010)

study shows baseline scenario and point out the future trends between 2010 and

2020 in Chile that indicates the waste generated from computer may lie between

10,000 and 20,000 tons. This study also indicates that the cumulative WEEE

generation will be more than four times higher than in the recent decade. Up till

2020, the shares of computer related items in Chile will increase rapidly

replacing other WEEE products.

Studies (Bertram et al., 2002; DTI, 2005; DTI, 2006; Ökopol, 2007; and

UN University, 2007) describe the present European Union‟s WEEE

management models depends on Directives for electronic equipments and

restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS). The bases for these directives are

grounded in Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPRs). The approach adopted

by the EU is to lessen the inflow of WEEE quantities into the municipal waste

stream and these directives also restrict the consumptions of perilous materials

generally found in the WEEE products. The approach adopted by the European

Union is to lessen the inflow of WEEE quantities into the municipal waste

stream and offer attractive incentives for producers to design environment-

friendly goods. Another complementary measure, of the new legislation is to

regulate design for innovation in the electronics and electrical industries.

The WEEE collection channels in Europe are discussed by Ciocoiu

(Ciocoiu et al., 2010) that are based on municipal collection centers which

involve the distributors for the recovery of EEE from household and industrial

consumers. Famous European collector centers are ICT Milieu systems in

Denmark and El Kresten from Sweden, Recupel from Belgium, NVMP from

Netherlands and El-Retur from Norway. Switzerland obtained remarkable results

through SWICO for WEEE collection. The system is based on take-back

mechanisms of used products, to the sellers.

In Asia, Japan takes the leads in formulating the WEEE policies.

According to Widmer (Widmer et al., 2005) and Yoshida (Yoshida et al., 2009)

Japan‟s WEEE management system is based upon “withdrawal on charge”;

buyers pay fee to the traders when they return used electronic equipments. Since

1998, in Japan; withdrawal system deals with four major category of WEEE

(washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, and air conditioners). The main

specification of the program under the law is to specify target rate and imposes

strict penalties for non-compliance. These programs run under the supervision of

ministries, municipalities and Japanese electronics companies.

13

2.2 STUDIES ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

UN Report December (2011) report points out that the worst effect of

WEEE is felt in developing countries of Africa and Asia. A study conducted by

UN in the five countries (Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Ghana and Liberia),

from the period of 2009 to 2011 published in 2011. The report indicates that 6.5

million tons to 10 million tons of domestic WEEE are produced per year in these

countries. Examination of documents shows that electronic equipments and its

waste flow from Europe towards West Africa. It indicates that in Ghana 2009,

around 70% of all Electric and Electronic Equipment imports were used

products, out of it 30% were totally non-operative, non-serviceable and non-

repairable, that produce about 40,000 tonnes of WEEE. Similar results were also

noticed in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire where half of the imported equipments were

found useless.

Oliver and Charles and others (Oliver and Charles, 2010; Puckett, 2005;

Finlay and Liechti, 2008) explain the situation in African countries. These

studies indicates that in South Africa production of WEEE is about 100,000 tons

annually and in 2007 Kenya, Morocco and Senegal discarded approximately

17,500 tons of IT and WEEE products. Puckett point out that in Nigeria 500

containers of used computer scrape arrived from developed countries each

month. Each container contains about 800 computers and monitors, thus

representing about 400,000 units arriving each month and 4,800,000 units per

year out of it 75% are junk. Oliver and Charles (2010) further point out that now

this ratio has changed to 500,000 units per month. An analysis conducted by UN

team in Nigeria; Africa and reported in December, 2011 states that out of 176

containers that were imported contains second hand EE products. The report

indicates that 75% came from different ports of Europe, 20% from Asia and

African ports and ratio from North American ports is 5%. Analogous statistical

analyse was observed in Ghana, where distribution ratios shows that 85% of

WEEE came from European harbours, 8% from North America ports, 4% from

Asian docks, and 3% from other foreign anchorages. In Europe especially

United Kingdom is the leading exporting country for both new and used

electronic products to Africa. Nigeria and Ghana are the two most leading

African countries that import new and used EEE products (UN Report

December, 2011).

Siddharth (Siddharth, (2010) has explain the position of health and social

problems due to the unplanned dumping and recycling process of WEEE that

were entered into the mainstream of Africa especially in Gauna and Nigeria.

Nnorom, Ciocoiu and other researchers (Nnorom and Osibanjo, 2008; Ciocoiu

and Valentina, (2012) throw light on another direction i.e. people working in

14

informal and refurbishing sector. They explains that WEEE is a powerful

economic and social driver; it improves job prospects and lifts people out of

poverty in developing countries, for example in Ghana, 20,300 to 33,600 people

work in activities associated with WEEE recycling including informal and

refurbishing industries. Oteng (Oteng, 2010) covers Ghanaian perspectives by

analyzing the recycling feasibility technologies and business models. His

proposed framework and model were designed for analyzing recycling systems

and gave different useful options for construction of physical sites and WEEE

collection centers.

The situation in Asia is not different from Africa. Studies (Hicks et al.,

2005; Liu, 2006; YU et al., 2010; Tong and Park, 2010) deal the situation in

China, which is emerging as new growing economy in the world. According to

them annual WEEE generated in China from 2003 is 1.1 million tons that

includes 5 million TV sets, 4 million refrigerators, 5 million computers, 5

million washing machines, and 30 millions of mobile phones and it is in a

continues process to piling up. Greenpeace estimates that by 2010, there will be

178 million new computer users in China alone. Other studies (Ching-Hwa et al.,

2004; Babu et al., 2007; Kui Huang et al., 2009) describes that this situation has

arisen due to the growing number of persons involved in collection; overhaul

and sale of used home electric and electronic goods and their number is

increasing exponentially high, particularly from farming villages. Liu and Yang

(Liu, 2006; Yang et al., 2008) point out that besides China faces the challenges

of inland WEEE productions but also at the same time of burgeoning illegal

imports from developed countries and this situation of WEEE management

further exaggerate due to illegal trade from neighboring countries like Japan,

Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan. These countries have high GDP ratio and

the people are rich, therefore; presently in these countries they do not have

substantial inland second hand WEEE appliance markets. Thus any WEEE

recycling system to be enacted in China will inevitably include products from

these four countries also. However, none of these four countries has any

regulations regarding the export of WEEE, thus the WEEE junk is growing

exponentially in China.

Sinha, Beary and Rode (Sinha, 2007; Beary, 2008; Rode, 2012), explains

the situation in India. In India, WEEE management has great significance not

only due to the generation of its own WEEE but also because of the dumping of

WEEE from developed countries. E-waste Guide, 2008 calculate the total

WEEE generation in India is approximately 1,46,000 tons to 3,30,000 tons a

year and is expected to touch 4, 70, 000 tons by the year 2011. Kukday and Pinto

(Kukday, 2008; Pinto, 2008) indicates that the expected growth for WEEE

generation for India is 34% per year. Apart from inland generation of WEEE, an

15

additional 50,000 metric tons a year is illegally trade-in into the country. In a

single month, there is a reported case of import of 30 metric tons of WEEE at the

Indian Ahmedabad port alone. Report by toxic link (2008) in scrapping, the hi-

tech myth estimates that over one million poor people in India are involved in

the informal recycling activities.

In Pakistan, Khushnood (2009), recycling and disposal of WEEE is a

serious problem. At present over 50,000 tons/year of WEEE are dumped on the

ground of Pakistan. Barely a small percentage of the items imported are usable.

The electric and electronics goods are not declared as „waste‟ at Pakistani

Customs since imports of WEEE are permitted or imported under the pretext of

„second hand equipment‟ or „metal scrap‟. In Pakistan these bulk WEEE is

dumped in the open landfill of the major cities of Pakistan especially Lahore,

Karachi. As observed in Karachi, the effluents arisen from the recycling

processes are thrown into Lyari River which connects Karachi with Arabian Sea,

and ultimately contaminating the marine life and ecosystem.

Haniffa (2007) and Priyantha et al. (2008) study the effects of WEEE

issues that appear to be minimal at present in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal,

Maldives and Bhutan. Reuse of second hand Electronic equipment is a common

practice in these developing countries. Electronic equipments recycling and

dismantling is a growing business and no WEEE dismantling modern facility is

available in formal sector. All the recycling is being carried out by the informal

sector. Fazle and Ahmed (2011) discuss the informal sector in these developing

countries is growing exponentially and urban poor are rapidly involve in this

profession about 1, 20,000 urban poor from the informal sector are involves in

the recycling trade chain of Dhaka city alone. Most of the WEEE material being

brought in as imports and then a large part of the imported waste leaves the

shores for recycling operations elsewhere. But stocks of WEEE materials are

piled up and kept in warehouses waiting for a proper way of disposal. Presently

there exists no law or regulations dealing with WEEE in these developing

countries. Some initiatives have been taken by these counties to control the

WEEE movement; countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have imposed

a ban on the import of used computers and its accessories, but the

implementation of law is awaited.

16

2.3 POLICY FRAMEWORK OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ON

WEEE

Poonam et al. (2007); Alexandra et al. (2010) and Cedric and Jaco (2011)

analysis the policies for end of life strategies in developed countries which gave

emphasis on recycling and reuse of materials. Policy initiatives of the developed

countries especially EU and USA are based on the environmentally friendly

procedures that are grounded in the welfare of the environment with the EPR

principle as starter. The strategic policies (especially directives and RoHs in EU)

in the mid-1990 were focus on primarily to control the toxic materials by smart

products designs for recycling e.g. as DfR and labor-intensive disassembly

process of hazardous constituents in the recycling phase.

The approaches are different as American system looks recycling as a sub

process of remanufacturing and rely heavily on export of WEEE products. The

End of Life of EU model is depended on directives and initiatives that encourage

design for disassembly, reuse, restoration and reprocessing. EU presents the

highest recycling targets. On the other hand Japan‟s strategy is based on efficient

recycling system. The operational cost in Japan for EoL is significantly higher

than European Union and United States due to the reason for heavy expenditure

in the heads of labour charges, services. In American framework the cost is

borne and shared by the local authorities. In all strategies consumers absorbs the

costs, therefore strategies are depended on the willingness to pay by consumer

and their behavior. The detail systematic policy frameworks of developed

countries are discussed in the following section.

2.3.1 Policy Framework of USA

Jofre and Morioka (2005); Kahhat et al. (2008); and Perrine & Susanne

(2009) explains the management steps that were taken by United states

regarding the recycling of discarded waste products. The US system is based on

EPR (Extended producer Responsibility) principle. Main features of the EoL

strategy focuses on the lessening the inflows of electronic waste towards

dumping sites or incinerators by sustaining cost-effectiveness. According to Hai

and Schoenung (2005) priorities are given for designing the longer lifetime of

equipments via re-use or overhaul. If no overhaul or reusable route is feasible

then process of recycling may be adopted. This policy stabs for the maximum

decrease input load on the landfill sites or incinerators. Manomaivibool (2009)

discuss by applying a sustainable WEEE management system in USA involves

major changes of current practices. Tong and Park (2010) further extend the

17

study by implementing these changes which requires the participation of all

society segments: individuals as consumers, private area, social and economic

Institutions and public. The systematic flow of EoL of US designed by Jofre and

Morioka is shown in Figure-2.1.

Figure-2.1: Management framework End of life strategy United State (Jofre

and Morioka, 2005)

Initiative

House hold

Concerned Generator

Second hand Dealer or charity

Agency

Collector

Commerce

Contractor

Exportation

Retailer Municipalities

Product Reuse Disassembly

Disposal Recycling Repair/Refurbishment

End of Life Route

Component Reuse

Hazardous Materials/ Substances Recovery/

Destruction

Material/ Energy

Recovery

Manufacture Second hand Market/ Charity

Reutilization Route

18

2.3.2 Policy Framework of European Union

According to Bretherton and Vogler (2006) from 1960, the European

countries serve as a universal frontrunner on waste management and designing

the strategies and policies on hazardous substances; in this connection they

design and established new policy initiatives to safe guard the environment that

have adverse impacts on health. These new policies initiatives direct the safe

usage of WEEE materials in term of recycling, transportation, disposal and

treatment of harmful materials in electronic industries and gave further extension

to the guidelines on the innocuous usage of harmful chemicals that are used in

the manufacturing process.

In EU policies two significant directives and one regulation; dealing in

control of hazardous chemicals found in WEEE, gain prominent for the future

management of WEEE in the European Union. The first directive (Council

directive 2002/96/EC) deals the overall WEEE managements and the second

directives (Council directive 2002/95/EC) outlines restrictions on the use of

harmful chemicals and materials. WEEE and RoHS entered into force in

February 2003. The extension of the directives and guidelines on the

cataloguing, appraisal, and endorsement of chemicals (REACH) become legally

binding from 2007.

Ciocoiu et al. (2010) further elaborate that these directives are based on

Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPRs). The tactic works as a corner stone

in the management of WEEE and transferred the responsibilities of waste

management from municipalities to the Industries. The legislation provides the

system for collection schemes where patrons give their old discarded WEEE

products WEEE free of charge. The objective of these schemes is to increase the

re-use and reprocess and lessen the load on conventional waste management

techniques and inspire the producers to design environmentally-friendly goods.

RoHs directives also confine the utilization of harmful substances use in the

manufacturing of EEE. The Directive 2002/96/EC also devise substitute

alternative metals for safer uses instead of lead, mercury, cadmium, and

hexavalent chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls

(PBB) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDE). The European Commission

revise the directives on electrical and electronic equipment these directives from

time to time to handle the growing volume of waste stream as it was felt that

inadequately treated WEEE poses environmental and health risks.

Another complementary measure, of the new legislation is to regulate

design for innovation in the electronics manufacturing works. Under this law

producer selling their product in European Union would follow the procedures

19

for Environment (DfE) guidelines. This law enact with the “internal design

control” that satisfy the elementary product necessities, producers who comply

will be awarded product certification conformity “EC label”. In the context, the

initiative inspires design for disassembly, reuse, overhaul and reprocessing for

discarded goods. The systematic flow of End-of-Life cycle is shown in figure-

2.2

Figure-2.2: Management framework End of life strategy European Union

(Jofre and Morioka, 2005)

Management framework for end of life European Union

Law

House hold

Concerned Generator

*Second hand Dealer

or charity Agency

Collector

Commerce

Contractor

*Exportation

Retailer Municipalities

Product Reuse Disassembly

Disposal Recycling Repair/Refurbishment

End of Life Route

Component Reuse

Hazardous Materials/ Substances Recovery/

Destruction

Material/ Energy

Recovery

Manufacture Second hand Market/ Charity

Reutilization Route

*Process/ route not specified by the law or initiative

20

2.3.3 Policy Framework of Japan

The legislation in Japan directs the producers to convalesce their

corresponding goods after their beneficial life span. This system encourages

individual responsibility of producers for their products recycling. The success

of WEEE management recycling system‟s program in Japan grounded in the

sensitive response of the Japanese people for their social responsible behaviour

on environmental sensitivity issues besides regulations.

Figure 2.3: Management framework for end of life strategy Japan (Jofre and

Morioka, 2005)

Management framework for end of life Japan

Law

House hold

Concerned Generator

*Second hand Dealer or

charity Agency

Collector

Commerce

Contractor

*Exportation

Retailer Municipalities

Product Reuse Disassembly

Disposal Recycling Repair/Refurbishment

End of Life Route

Component Reuse

Hazardous Materials/ Substances Recovery/

Destruction

Material/ Energy Recovery

Manufacture Second hand Market/ Charity

Reutilization Route

*Process/ route not specified by the law or initiative

No specific flow

21

The Japanese policy framework, deals the WEEE in two ways. One is the

law for promotion of effective utilization of resources (LPUR) which focus on

enhancing measures for recycling goods and reducing waste generations and the

other is Designated House-hold Appliance Recycling Law (DHARL), based on

EPR principle; Which deals with the overall management process of discarded

goods that includes collection, transportations and finally recycling. In general

WEEE strategies in Japan gave emphasis on the efficient utilizations of waste bi-

products and proper disposal of resources. The flow of end of life cycle is shown

in figure 2.3 above.

2.4 CONCLUDING THE LITERATURE REVIEW

With the many fold increase of information and telecommunication

industrial sector, enhances the usage of the electric and electronic equipment

exponentially in global scenario. Regardless of the variation in volume and

extent of scholarly understandings about WEEE management in the global

spectrum, most research studies evidently emphasized the need of advance

existing handling and management methods (Martin et al., 2005; Ciocoiu et al.,

2011; Jiaxiang et al., 2012). The management challenges for WEEE in the under

developed nations required the following: modification in infrastructure

legislation, trans-boundary and illegal trade between countries, framework to

control and implementation of the take-back policies like extended producer

responsibility. Apparently, the developing countries have to build their

capacities on WEEE management and follow the footsteps of the developed

world as part of their effort to achieve sustainability. Developing countries with

a good track of WEEE management needs to continually improve their existing

systems and adopt methods towards perfection by examining the current WEEE

management and take systematic restructure of the laws to empower the

country‟s system to deal with this problem (Francis et al., 2011). The United

Nations Organisations such as Basel Convention and SteP (Stopping the e-waste

Problem), are among the global efforts intended to tackle the WEEE problems

worldwide. These organisations gives schemes for utilizes mechanisms on

WEEE management such as banning the trans-boundary movement of hazardous

materials, dumping of Waste material and creating knowledge & information

exchanging platform on WEEE among different countries (Khetriwal et al.,

2006).

At regional level, several researchers are devising sophisticated

approaches distinctly designed to suit the challenges and cultures of WEEE

management and handling in their countries. Research efforts in developing

22

countries suggest a different approach to beef up the existing WEEE

management practice. Such as banning and imposed restriction on the

importation of used electronic appliances, to lessen the existing volume on

WEEE challenges (Nnorom and Osibanjo, 2008). The authors also suggest

establishing extensive recovery systems, which includes value-added, material

and energy recovery, and imposing economic policies such as EPR or Advanced

Recycling Fee (ARF) on both new and used electronic appliances.

23

CHAPTER 3

PROBLEM MODELING: WEEE ACTIVITY MAPPING FOR

PAKISTAN

3.1 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION

Speculative basis of the Activity Theory is applied in many science and art

disciplines such as education, management, psychology especially cultural

studies, informational system etc., which generally integrate approaches that

involve the human activities. Researchers admired the Activity theory due to its

holistically opulent process by considering whole system of human‟s behaviour

by applying different classy tools in an inter- connected and dynamic

atmospheres (Kuutti, 1996; Hasan, 1998; Korpela et al., 2002; Mursu and

Soriyan, 2002; Scanlon and Issroff, 2005; Hakkinen and Korpela, 2006; Liaw, et

al., 2007;). Activity theory is applied in the arena of environmental management

focusing on the field of Waste of Electric and Electronics Equipments (WEEE).

3.1.1 Activity Theory

Activity theory is a technique of unfolding and depicting the structure of

human activities. The greater view of the activity theory is to provide a well-

organized and unswerving way to investigate and understand the larger

perspective of human activity. It is a philosophy of “analysis and design”, a

philosophy that emphasizes understanding the wide-range context of human

activities within which designed artifacts are used. It provides the conceptual

framework for understanding the human use of tools and other artifacts. It was

first introduced by Russian psychologists Rubinshtein, Leontiev and Vigotsky in

1920. Activity theory has now gaining increased attention among interaction

designers and others in designing the human-based interaction and usability

communities in societies (Gay and Hembrooke, 2004).

The fundamentals of activity theory are described by Engeström et al.,

1999 and shown in the figure-3.1.

24

Figure 3.1: The structure of human activity (Engeström et al., 1999).

The three vertices of the upper trio in the figure 3.1 represents the human

activity performed by agents (subject), motivation of finding a solution to a

problem or have a purpose (object or motive), mediated by tools (artifacts) within

a changing process to yield a result (outcome). Engeström expanded this

perception by augmenting another three vertices below the triangle, indicating

that all human based activities occurs in social environment (community) with

differentiated responsibilities (roles or division of labor) constrained by socio-

cultural and procedural factors (rules). Vertices of the triangle are briefly defined

below:

Subject – Person or small group of people on the part of analysis

Object – The issue that is going to be transformed through activity.

Tools – The artifacts; technical or psychological, which is employed for

transformation.

Community –The large group of people involved in the activity process.

TOOL

TRANSFORMATI-

ONAL PROCESS

SUBJECT OUTCOME

OBJECT

RULES COMMUNITY ROLES

25

Roles/ Division of labour – The division of horizontal and vertical

dimension of authority which executes what action is needed to gain

shared goals.

Rules – guidelines for the shared cultural activity system with explicit and

implicit regulations, constraints, processes, cultural practices, norms,

viewpoints or worldviews, conventions etc.

Activity theory further characterizes human activity as hierarchical but the

components can be linked together as shown in figure-3.2. Activity hierarchy has

three levels for better understanding and analysis: activity that is focused on

object; actions that is directed towards goal; and operations done under some

conditions. Activity consists of assortments of actions directed toward goals and

has some purpose that is related to the activity. Actions in turn comprise

conscious or non-conscious operations, adapted for emerging environments in

provision of the goals of the actions. The object of the activity is equivalent to

motive because it is connected with grasping a result, to produce something the

real human need.

Figure 3.2: Hierarchical nature of activity (Engeström et al, 1999).

26

In Activity theory; tool is placed at the zenith of the structure of activity as

the activity theory sees all human action arbitrated by tools (Constantine and

Lockwood, 1999). For operational context artifacts to be most effective as tools,

the results will be more operative when these tools are actually used and deployed

according to the design. Most importantly, this requires that the design fit with

the purpose of the activity within which the use by subject takes place.

Furthermore, designed artifacts effectively support the combined actions by

which these purposes are advanced. Therefore an ingenious relic takes into

account the community of participants, their roles, and the rules regulating their

activity in an appropriate direction.

Activity theory conveniently breaks down into two focuses: activity

modeling and solution modeling. The former expresses the problem from an

activity-centered perspective while the latter expresses the design that follows

from expression of the problem. The entire process is model-driven and linked

end-to-end by common threads captured in the models.

Activities take place over time, within a particular physical and social

setting, and are performed in characteristic manners, styles, or patterns. These are

useful considerations for the designer to take into account in designing tools to

support activity.

Activities gain realities through solid actions; these solid actions are

connected with goals; which helps in achieving the target of the activity. The

deployment of grounded actions depends upon the division of labour in social

achievements in which action is a process to gain the acquired results; a process

that is connected to the conscious goal. Just as the notion of a motive (purpose) is

tied to an activity, so is the notion of a goal connected with the notion of an

action. The emergence in activity of goal-directed processes or actions was

historically the consequence of the transition of humans to life in society.

Various operations are performed in the course of an action and these

depend directly on the concrete conditions under which a goal can be realised i.e.

on the tools and technology available, the nature of the object of the activity, or

other material considerations. Actions and operations have autonomy in the sense

that the same actions and operations may be performed in the course of different

activities, but the components of a specific activity are indissolubly interrelated.

The components of activity are summarised in figure-3.2.

The actions and operations of activity are performed collectively. The

different goal-directed actions are performed by individuals in realisation of a

common objective. The actions do not in themselves satisfy the needs of the

27

group, but only the sum of the actions performed collectively. In designing the

tools to support cooperative work, that individuals performing actions in a

complex division of labour may not be fully conscious of the collective

object/motive of the activity to which their actions contribute. Therefore, activity

systems are driven by communal motives that are often difficult to articulate for

individual participants.

Operations are the process of action (how the actions are carried out) in

achieving the goal. They are important for designing the tools that support actions

and are also connected under some specific conditions. Further tool is a

substantial entity in which methods or operations, rather than actions or goals, are

designed. The operation is of something functional and technical, repeated actions

over time may become automatic for the individual performing it. Developing

and designing tool is the condition and defines the scheme for what types of tools

employed to carry out the action; operation that can be performed with its

support.

The structural analysis of the activity into its modules actions and

operations does not specify that the units of activity are separated into fragments

constituents that can be abstracted and studied in their own right. The purpose of

the analysis is to disclose the inner relations of activity because the

transformations that emerge in the course of the development of activity are

obscured behind these relations. It is the analysis of the internal acquaintances of

an activity system that is the required soul of an activity, it is a process

characterised by constant transformation.

3.1.2 System Activity Modeling

Systematic Activity Modeling is an approach to organize and represent the

contextual aspects of tool use that is both well-grounded in an accepted

theoretical framework and embedded within a proven design method. The activity

model includes three parts: an Activity Map that identifies relevant activities and

their interrelationships (including, optionally, the aggregation of task cases into

activities), a collection of Activity Profiles describing the salient aspects of the

relevant activities, and a Participation Map showing the involvement of actors

with the system, with other artifacts, and with other participants.

Systematic activity modeling is the refinement of the Activity modeling

with the following additions (Constantine and Lockwood, 2002; Strope, 2003;

Windl, 2002).

28

An Activity Model defines and describes activities and their

interrelationships.

The Role Profile that describes user roles is modified to connect roles

explicitly to the activities within which the roles are embedded.

The Task Model is elaborated to incorporate actions in relation to other

participants and artifacts and to connect task cases explicitly to activities.

Activity modeling is intended as a tool to capture and succinctly represent

the salient information regarding activities that is most relevant to interaction

design. The first and foremost goal is a practical design tool to serve practicing

designers, rather than a comprehensive framework for research or academic

analysis. As such, the focus is on pragmatics over rigor, on systematic rather than

completely formal techniques (Brown et al., 2005).

3.2 WEEE DATA ANALYSIS FOR PAKISTAN

Pakistan Customs was approached to obtain the raw data related to WEEE

imports in the country. The five year period, i.e., from 2007 to 2011, was taken

into consideration. Over sixteen hundred items are enlisted as EEE with EU (EU

2002), which can be given a WEEE designation at the end of their lifetime. The

WEEE imports are classified under seven heads in the research for analysis that

include computer sets, Computer systems (incomplete), computer printers,

laptops, refrigerators, television and audio/ video devices.

The „Computer sets‟ category used in the study includes CPU, monitor,

keyboard, mouse, RAM, hard disk of different capacities which are in working

condition. Most of the computers being imported from developed countries are

obsolete, having processors like XT, AT, 286, 386, 486 but some processors are

still in-use like Pentium- I, II, III, or IV. The category „Computer systems

(incomplete)‟ refer to out-of-order computers, typically a CPU along with a

monitor, but missing some important component like power supply, RAM or hard

disk or with a broken mother board etc.

The Laptops category includes working and non-working conditions.

Models include XT, 286, 386, 486, and Pentiums-1, II, III, etc. The most popular

laptop brands, imported to cater local demands, are Toshiba, Acer, DELL,

Fujitsu, HP, Sony, MAC and Compaq. In printers, the HP printers have captured

the second-hand market. These printers come in working and non-working

29

conditions. The most popular models from HP are 4L, 5L, 6L, 5SI, 4+, 2P, HP

1000, HP 1100, HP1200 and the other brand which is commonly come into notice

is the DELL printer and the most popular DELL brand in market is 5000 series

etc.

The refrigerators are Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Sanyo, Singer and TCL. They

also come in working or non-working conditions. Some of the fridges are so old

that they contain CFC gas in their compressor. The fridges are generally five to

fifteen years old. Whereas working average life for use of fridge is three years to

five years, after that they become junk.

Televisions in Pakistan come in functional and non-functional conditions.

Popular brands are Sony, Hitachi and National Panasonic. Television sets of

various ages - five to fifteen years old, sizes ranging between 14 inches to 60

inches, and technologies – CRT, flat screen, or plasma, are commonly imported.

Audio video devices include a range of players, audio or visual, used for home

entertainment purposes, either macro or micro in size. Macro size audio or

audiovisual players could be an eight to ten pieces system with each piece

weighing eight to ten kilograms. Home-theater, car speakers, decks, tape

recorders, radios, video cassette recorders, compact disc players, digital video

disc players, MP3 players, MP4 players, movie cameras, pocket television, etc.

can be classified as micro size devices. The age of these types of imported

devices could span five to twenty years. The WEEE quantities imported are

summarised in Table-2.

Table-2

Import of WEEE for the years 2007-2011 in units

Year Computer

Sets

Computer

Systems

incomplete

Computer

Printers laptop

Fridge

Television

Audio

video

device

2007 1092224 127769 936322 38734 80078 56544 553722

2008 749097 91206 265851 129572 80116 43302 258049

2009 600622 114355 1578195 174626 89396 109986 154582

2010 656338 77875 375988 72012 46992 77180 137901

2011 704724 70076 451086 132294 54374 87431 165622

Total 2653005 421281 3507442 547238 310454 334443 1229876

Grand Total 9003739 Units

Source: compiled

30

The statistics compiled for the same period by weight in tons of WEEE, is

shown in Table-3. The average weight of a computer set (CPU along with

monitor) is taken as 35 kg, that of Computer systems (incomplete) as 32 kg, that

of a laptop as 10 kg, that of a refrigerator as 55 kg, that of a television set (21

inches to 86 inches) as 35 kg, and that of audio/ video devices as 25 kg. Around

313,351 tons of WEEE was imported in Pakistan during the last five years (2007-

2011). The average WEEE that was imported in Pakistan was 62620.27 tons;

calculated on the basis for the last five years (2007-2011) and the details of each

year are outlined in Table-3 below:

Table-3

Import of WEEE for the years 2007-2011 in tons

Year Computer

Sets

Computer

Systems

incomplete

Computer

Printers Laptop Fridge Television

Audio

Video

Device

Total

2007 38227.84 4088.61 23408.05 387.34 4404.29 1979.04 13843.05 86338.22

2008 26218.39 2918.6 6646.27 1295.72 6451.23 1515.57 6451.23 51497.01

2009 21021.77 39454.88 6646.27 1746.26 4916.78 3849.51 3864.55 81500.02

2010 22971.83 2492.00 9399.70 720.12 2584.56 2701.30 3447.53 44317.04

2011 24665.34 2242.43 11277.15 1322.94 2990.57 3060.08 4140.55 49699.06

Total 133105.27 51196.52 57377.44 5472.38 21347.43 13105.20 31746.91 313351.35

Average import of WEEE for the last five years (2007-2011) 62670.27 tons/ year

Source: compiled

3.2.1 WEEE Dynamics in Pakistan

Table 2 and 3 in the previous section suggest that the WEEE import

businesses in Pakistan are thriving. The computer market in Pakistan is huge. The

import trend of computer sets during the previous five years is plotted in figure-

3.3. The data shows that computer imports peaked in 2007 (38227.84 tons) and

then declined during the following two years, reaching a trough in 2009

(21021.77 tons). From 2009 onwards, computer imports have started picking up

pace but the growth rate is increasing with slow pace. The basic reason of the

computer sets import are the introduction of new technology based items such as

I-pod, PC tablet, I-phone etc. in the developed countries. As discussed earlier the

documents foresee the rising imports for computer sets in near the future.

31

Figure 3.3 Used Computer set import to Pakistan

The figure 3.4 shows the record of computer system (incomplete) for

import (2007-2011) in Pakistan. The computer system (incomplete) imports

reached its lows in 2007, the computer system (incomplete) imports observed a

converse phenomenon: it peaked in 2009 (39454.88 tons) but remained stable in

other years. The study observed that the only use of the computers systems

(incomplete) that are imported in Pakistan are used as spare parts and remaining

is scrap. The documents depict that the import of computer system (incomplete)

will also rise in near future.

Figure 3.4 Used Computer System (incomplete) imports to Pakistan

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Computer Sets

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Computer System (Incomplete)

32

The printer market in Pakistan is also thriving. Printers of varying models

and brands are imported in Pakistan under the label of „used equipment‟. These

printers could be in either functional state or nonfunctional but either ones are

equipped with expired cartridges. The vendors carry various models of both ink-

jet type printers and laser printers, with the latter one being the preferred choice

of customers. Imported printers either have minor faults or are supplied with dead

cartridges; either case can be easily fixed and functional order can easily be

restored. Figure-3.5 shows that import orders for computer printers is steadily on

the rise since 2008, but still is well below the quantities imported in 2007, i.e.

23,408 tons. The documents analysis indicates that in future the import level of

printer will rise.

Figure 3.5: Used Computer Printers import to Pakistan

Laptops have a good market in Pakistan and, just like computers, are

imported in both functional and non-functional states. Most of these laptops have

well exceeded their lifetimes by the time they are imported; an average laptop is

five to ten years old.

The laptop imports have been somewhat inconsistent over the years and

markets have been witnessing fluctuations all throughout. As seen in figure-3.6,

the import orders witnessed a year on year growth from 2007 to 2009 and again

in 2011 after witnessing a slow 2010 year. The rapidly changing technology of

our times, from faster processors to tablet PCs, is the driving force behind the

thriving laptop market. With the technological innovations expected to continue

unabated, the laptop imports are not expected to dwindle any time in the near

future.

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Computer Printers

33

Figure 3.6: Used Laptop import to Pakistan

Refrigerator imports in Pakistan also have a cyclical drift as shown in

figure 3.7. Even though, a peak import level of 6451 tons was reached in 2008,

the import activity has fallen short of that level in prior and following years. The

imports reported growth between 2007 and 2008, after which it declined

continuously for two years until 2010, before picking up pace again in 2011.

Contrary to the market of used computers, imported refrigerators in Pakistan

seldom find a large customer base due to the superiority of locally manufactured

refrigerators over the secondhand imported ones. Locally manufactured

refrigerators beat the imported ones not just in quality but also in cost. Based on

the interviews and data analysis on the refrigerators the refrigerator import toward

Pakistan in near future will decline.

Figure 3.7: Used Refrigerator import to Pakistan

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Laptop

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Refrigerator

34

Television imports is due to lack of television assembling or manufacturing

units in Pakistan means that most of the sets have to be imported from abroad –

either Europe or Japan. The television import, just like laptops and refrigerators,

also have recurring periods of growth and decline as indicated by the data plotted

in figure-3.8. In the five year period under consideration, the television imports in

2009 exceeded imports from the couple year periods before it and after it. The

rising tendency can once again be attributed to never ending technological

breakthroughs, just like in computers, and change in signal from analog to digital

in Europe Union and North American countries. Unprecedented technological

advances also imply that strong imports would be a norm in years to come. The

situation gets further worst when change in policy occur in India and China to

covert its analog signal to digital signal up to 2015.

Figure 3.8: Used Television import to Pakistan

Various kinds of audio video (entertainment) devices, functioning or

otherwise, are also imported in Pakistan under the label of „used items‟. Even

though, the year 2007 was a particularly booming year for entertainment devices

dealers (13843 tons of imported devices), the subsequent years have seen a

significant drop in demand for such products. However, there has been a slight

recovery or improvement of its sales in the year 2011. As such, it would be

somewhat damning to forecast future trends. Figure-3.9 shows the market trends

of the sales of audio video devices during the past five years.

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Television

35

Figure 3.9: Used Audio Video devices import to Pakistan

Gross WEEE imports, including all types of equipment, are plotted in

figure-3.10 for comparison. It can be seen from the figure that years 2007 and

2009 saw unusually high imports of WEEE equipment (i.e. 86,338 and 81,500

tons respectively) while the import volumes sustained during the other three years

more or less. The total WEEE imports over the period of five years are 313351.35

tons. The mounting flow of WEEE in 2010 and 2011 show that in near future the

import of WEEE will become significant.

Figure 3.10: Total WEEE import to Pakistan in five years

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Audio Video Device

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Qu

anti

ty in

To

ns

Years

Total WEEE

36

The analysis shows that computer sets, computer accessories, computer

printers, and laptops account for most WEEE imports. Out of 313,351 tons of

imported WEEE, the aggregate weight of computers and computer related

accessories is 247,151 tons which accounts for 78.87% share in total WEEE

imports during the previous five years. The computer and computer related items

are the most significant of all the WEEE import owing to the large growth rate in

the world. These are attributed by number of factors; rapid growth of technology

change, reduction in the lifespan, availability of cheap, latest and economical

version of computers and no option for up gradation in computers. Audio video

devices have the second largest share in WEEE scrap, 31746.91 tons which

makes up 10.13 % of the junk. Refrigerators and television sets contribute the rest

of WEEE scrap at about 6.81% and 4.18% respectively. A pie-chart depicting the

share of each item is given in figure-3.11.

Figure 3.11: WEEE in Pakistan from 2007-2011

Computer related items

79%

Audio Video Devices

10%

Fridge 7%

Television sets 4%

37

3.3 PROBLEM MODELING: WEEE ACTIVITY MAPPING FOR

PAKISTAN

Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is one of the leading imports of

Pakistan. The country imports finished electronics goods, used electronic items,

as well as recyclables for further processing. The electronic products imported in

Pakistan that have reached their end-of-life could either be repaired,

reconditioned, refurbished for further vending or recycled, stored, dumped

unintentionally or intentionally at different warehouses sites. The supply chain of

imported electronics commences at import of electronic equipments for further

reuse or processing and terminates at open land-filling/ unplanned dumping at

various sites.

In Pakistan, WEEE has both direct and indirect uses. „Direct use‟ implies

straightforward selling, i.e. business of equipment deemed suitable for vending

without service by technicians. As such, selling of such equipment is the only

responsibility of businessmen. Apart from selling, other tasks include checking

and cleaning activities of the imported functional electronic items; like selling of

different types of computers, televisions, refrigerators, audio video devices, or

refilling the printer toner cartridges for reuse. Once initially utilized, these items

may enter the indirect supply chain provided that they are within their lifespan.

The term „Indirect use of WEEE‟ refers to the extra labour of repair and

service required by the equipment as a prerequisite to its trade. The grey market

for computers is geographically vast and covers large as well as small cities of

Pakistan. Repair shops offer facilities such as upgrading of software in mobile

phones and computer, services for auxiliary and personalized up gradation of

accessories such as changing LCD screen, changing the RAM, Improve the hard

disk capacity, altering original lights with new colors, etc. Addition to from fixing

broken computers, repair shops also restore old, defective, and non-functional

computers and televisions, which are also called “reconditioned” units once

repaired. Restored old computers have original physical look but have limited

lifespan. Repair shops also provide limit time warranty for the reconditioned,

repairable units of mobile phones, televisions, and computers.

In developed countries, there exist recycling system for WEEE

management but no functional system in Pakistan has been initiated to treat or

process WEEE as a special waste. The typical WEEE producers and consumers

of WEEE are commercial or educational institutions, offices, industries, and

households. When someone is purchasing a new computer or any household

electronic item (e.g. computer), they either pass it on to some other family

38

member or sell it on to either another individual or used items dealer. Out of order

electronic equipment often end up at junkshops from where it is eventually sold

to formal recyclers for dismantling, precious metals extraction, or for further

processing.

The process of dismantling the discarded electronic items and using its

components for future projects is dubbed “Refurbishing”. Refurbishing is often

carried out on television, laptops, mobile phones, and personal computers.

Refurbishing practices may also imply upgrading and changing components or

stocking the functional parts as spares (e.g. changing RAM, hard disk, and CPU).

Remanufacturing is a process in which a new computer is built by using out-

dated and discarded components of both branded and generic computers.

Remanufacturing is commonly practiced for personal computers sold at second-

hand market and using of computer CRT for manufacturing television sets.

Cannibalization implicates process of selective repossession of components

and modules (others are scrapped) mainly for spare parts replacements

applications. The cannibalization is done in the television sets, refrigerators, and

computers.

The electronic goods traverse through various vendors, both formal and

informal, on its long and complex journey from consumer to recycler. The

journey is also somewhat cyclical in nature, with computers and electronic

devices changing ownership from manufacturers to retailers numerous times

before finding retreating to a perpetually refuge at a recycling dump.

The journey of WEEE processing commences at dismantling the

equipment; for example, in the case of computers, the first step involves

disassembling the CPU into motherboard, keyboard, floppy drive, CD-ROM,

RAM, and so on as well as the disbanding of monitors and printers into monitor

and printer casing and machinery, and so on. Since only a few used-models are

popular among customers, WEEE scrap dealers‟ first step is to sort out the resell-

able pieces in working condition from the junkies destined for dismantling.

Occasionally, the sorting out is done beforehand by the vendors or computer

service technicians. These peoples buy merely a handful of products worthy for

resale. Unsellable devices are disbanded and traded with different stakeholders

for material recovery. The interview conducted by the various stake holders;

government officers, particularly custom‟s authorities and business man, scrap

dealers etc. in the three main cities of Pakistan; Quetta, Karachi and Lahore,

39

indicate that the direct use of the WEEE product is not more than 30% and the

indirect use of WEEE is about 70%.

The scrap market in Pakistan is doing a roaring business; the ABS

(Acrylonitrile - Butadiene - Styrene) plastic of computers is sold at a rate of Rs.

40 to 65 per kg depending upon the specification of plastic. The motherboard‟s

scrap is sold at a rate of Rs. 250 per kg and CPU casings, made from tin, are sold

at a rate of Rs. 40 per kg. The informal computer recycling methods accrue a cost

of Rs 180 (US$ 2), a cost ten times lower than the recycling costs in United States

of America - around 20 dollars.

Functional PCs from Pakistan‟s corporate offices or business enterprises,

having 486 or older processors, are usually sent to recyclers. Same is the fate

suffered by other computers having weak resale demand in the used computer

market. On the other hand, import consignments may include both types of

computers, functional or scrap. Computers in functional category such as PI, PII,

PIII, and PIV PCs, or latest models of personal computers/laptops and their

peripheral parts have a good market in Pakistan. Defunct items generally include

monitors of different sizes, circuit boards, cables, broken parts, etc. Computers in

functional order bought by retailers in Pakistan enter the gray market for resale.

The mark-up at which these computers are traded by either wholesalers or

retailers is very high some times, more than 100% of the purchase price. The

interviews and observation concluded that sustainable and never-ending growth

of the recycling and gray market of resale implies that it is the source of profit

margin that motivates the people to adopt consciously this business happily and

as a matter of choice.

WEEE recycling business in Pakistan incorporates procurement, treating

and trading aspects of extracted waste materials. Precious metals and components

could be recovered through either backyard or informal recycling. Majority of

informal recyclers are also involved in the scavenging of discarded electronics in

the waste dump and employ rudimentary traditional methods and tools to recover

precious metals such as, gold, copper, Nickel, silver, lead and cadmium. Workers

disassemble WEEE using their bare hands and metals are recovered by burning

integrated circuits, wires, and cables in the open. In the process, they use strong

acid such as sulphuric acid for the abstraction of gold and other precious metals

therefore exposing themselves to toxic smokes. Recycling activities from WEEE

such as abstraction of precious material is occurred in the patio of crowded

neighbourhoods and shantytown areas of Lahore and Karachi.

40

The obsolete electronic equipment then finally head towards their ultimate

fate: either abandoned at a landfill or an unplanned dumping site. Unusable

electronic components are stored at junkshop to accumulate, burnt them for

recovery of precious elements, dump them at landfill, or un- planned dumping

e.g. simply thrown away indiscriminately. The WEEE retained past the informal

recycling activity are usually obsolete electronic parts having insignificant

commercial value and is brought to purpose as fuel in brick kilns. The summary

of present activity Flow of WEEE in Pakistan is shown in figure-3.12.

Another significant source of inflow of WEEE into Pakistan is through

Afghanistan. Since Afghanistan is a land lock country having no seaports of its

own, it uses Pakistani ports and transport systems (Railways and Roads) for its

trade under an accord signed by the two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan). As

smuggling is also widespread between the two countries, the imported goods

from Afghanistan are illegally brought back to Pakistan which adds to the volume

of WEEE in Pakistan.

Since there is no study so far that specifies the quantities of other category

of WEEE i.e. inland generation of WEEE, coming into the WEEE stream,

anecdotal evidence and market knowledge indicates that this portion consists of

minute fraction and relatively trivial. The field study of observational assessments

in the market indicates the common presence of mobiles phone, computers and

televisions. Other WEEE products that were introduced to the market have very

low market saturation.

41

Source: Compiled

Figure 3.12: Problem Modeling: WEEE Activity Mapping for Pakistan Source: Compiled

WEEE Import

Distribution in Different Cities

Consumption

Cannibalization Utilization

Unplanned Dumping

Indirect Use Direct Use

Disposal

Remanufacturing

Recycle

Refurbish

Recondition

Pakistan

42

3.4 SOLUTION MODELING: SYSTEM ACTIVITY MAPPING FOR

PAKISTAN

To achieve sustainability the use of activity theory based on social learning

is applied to solve the complex challenges. Waste of Electric and Electronics

Equipments (WEEE) management is one example of complexity that our

societies need to deal with broader concepts rather than finding short sightedness

technical solutions.

The dimensions of conceptualization of activity theory stretch from

psychological to pedagogical, political science to social organization, and then

further to the problem solving approach. For the latter aspect i.e. problem solving

approach, it has been recognized as a valuable and necessary collaborating

methodology in organizing the resources and its management as in WEEE

management. In problem solving dimension, scholarly approaches refer to system

activity theory as a learning process base on collectiveness and gave emphasis on

sharing of knowledge from communities, it is the basis for individual behaviour

change but also transform community behaviour. In learning; communication and

sharing collaboration of different actors are the most important factors. These

relationships foster development of social, technical skills and trust, which

potentially forms the base for mutual understanding in solving concern problems,

generating new ideas, create harmony among the communities in achieving their

targets for solving problems. The problems generated in the socio-environmental

domains can be handled through management in resource, collaborative efforts

and viable knowledge that progressively advocate the need to establish

participatory learning platforms, where individuals can meet, interact, learn

collaboratively and take collective decisions.

Activity theory provides worthy frameworks to understand different

concepts in heterogeneous fields such as education, information systems, and

humanities. The use of activity theory is very convenient because it explains

different types of activities in hierarchical or orderly manner and disintegrates the

activities into actions and operations. It insists that activity is mediated by tools,

which helps to explain relationships between the user and the tool. Activity

theory speculates the activity not bound to single person action but relate it to the

societal parameters that are located in culture and history. In other words, activity

theory stems from its fundamental view of purposeful activity in a cultural

historical context as the fundamental unit for the study of human behaviour.

The research examines the current use of activity theory for the

management of wasted electric and electronic equipments. The study adopted the

WEEE management policy as the tool for proper management of WEEE. In the

43

middle of triangle there exist subjective and objective; subjective is WEEE

management and the objective deals with WEEE management for items already

imported to our country and regulating the future imports of WEEE through

checks administered by customs and port agencies. The base of the triangle

comprises of government, consumers, industrialist, and traders (importers and

exporters) as community. Government, consumers, industrialist, and traders are

the key actors in the management of WEEE and therefore their roles and rules

should be well defined. Every contributor should follow the rules and play the

desired role for better WEEE management. The desired outcome WEEE

management should be achieved through educational and social learning. The

research focused on the interaction of WEEE activity‟s policy framework

development with the activities of user‟s involved WEEE management.

The essentials of proposed WEEE Activity Modeling are summarized in

figure 3.13; which incorporated the main actors i.e. government, importers/

exporters/ industrialist/ manufacture and the consumers. Process of model shows

the rules and role played by each sector in the WEEE management system.

Figure 3.13: Proposed WEEE System Activity Diagram

Source: Compiled

Key feature of the activity theory is based on dialectic argumentative of

analysis between group of people and their arbitrated tools which have been

shaped by human activity i.e. technical elements. With the advancement of the

information technologies, the generation of waste of electric and electronic

Government

Rules Roles

Industries Consumer

WEEE Management

WEEE Policy

44

equipments had enhanced many folds. WEEE Policy is used as tools of mediated

human activities which have several characteristics: They can be primary –

tangible, external or physical, secondary – internal, semiotic or mental, or tertiary

– schematics where mind and culture act together such as environments or

ecosystems. An activity comprises set of actions which aim for specific goals and

operations; these actions are indicated clearly in the WEEE policy framework.

Therefore activity involves number of actions with their specific aims for the

achievement of goals and operations; these actions are indicated clearly in the

WEEE policy framework. Thus framework with the application of real-life data

added value in the analysis and can be applied promptly and can be understood by

the people without difficulty.

This study extended the research work of Korpela et al. (2002), Karlsson

and Wistrand (2006) and uses Activity Theory to methodically design a

theoretical framework for the analysis of systems development. The systems

development is a socially collaborative activity, activity theory will work well

with WEEE policy which has benefits both as a theoretical exercise and a

practical tool. It develop an approach which enables to add the richness and

insight of the environment and underpins the complex and dynamic human

problems of research and practice through collection of actors following different

rules and activities in the form of methods to guide and further improve the work

processes to gain better outcomes or results. It is also an appropriate theory to use

in understanding and solving the problems involving social learning and the

associated environmental problems. In this context, designed framework based on

activity theory‟s perspective can be distinguished by providing a means for

observing the patterns of human activity in terms of achieving targets, goals and

purposes, facts, awareness, focus of attention and tools through analyzing WEEE

data. In other words designed WEEE framework views the core within a dialectic

process between subjectivity and objectivity, learning and doing, individual and

collective, technical and social, and also tacit and explicit knowledge (Crawford

and Hasan, 2006). Designed framework proved useful not only in understanding

user group activities in their development of any system, but also allowed a multi-

faceted analysis of the information and its users and the dynamics between them.

In WEEE policy, collaborative group activity is the key to promote the

understanding of WEEE management in a better and collaborated manner.

In WEEE management through activity theory that involves models of

knowledge building, perspectives, and artefacts to guide the design of WEEE

management collaborative learning activities. In collaborative learning

environment the people are encourage asking questions, making quarries,

explaining and justifying other point of views, articulating reasoning, and

elaborate and reflect upon the received knowledge. Thus activity theory gives

45

clear directions; how people can social participate in collaborative activities while

interacting with the management of WEEE.

The designed Activity theory framework emphasis on the accruing features

that affect the positivity of subject interpretations, the purpose and the sense

creation of single or group actions and operations. It also provides a suitable

model for understanding the ways in which human knowledge, experience,

requirements, and creativity shape the design and effectiveness of emerging

management of waste know-hows. The designed Activity theory framework also

proved to be useful in describing the multi-faceted system of information and its

users regardless of its contextual environment.

Activity theory says that social learning occurs on different levels and

involves different processes of learning. Limitation to effective social learning

towards a more sustainable WEEE management system can occur. Culture as

socially constructed phenomena that needs to be tempered by an awareness of the

specific historical and social context in which it is embedded and the subsequent

limitations on its modifications and fluidity. The culture conceptualizes the social

arena of constant dynamic interaction, confrontation of various group cultures in

a society and can, as such, be modified in an active and conscious way by these

social agents. Culture is also important on the level of individual and/or group

interactions where problem solving decisions are created. At the same time, they

influence that 'stable' culture through the cultural dynamics ignited by social

interactions within participatory processes for social learning. Stable culture,

based on education, plays a significant role in social learning and problem solving

processes. Since education represents a process of acquiring not only information,

but also developing skills to think and ways of knowing. Although, culture is

usually characterized by strong reciprocity in relationships, interpretations and

manifestations of reciprocity can be quite confusing especially between different

social strata.

In Pakistan, The wheel of development are in the hands of government„s

institutions and are responsible for solving all types of problems that come along

the way of progress. The roles in power system of Pakistan are divided two major

categories (a) authoritative and (b) subservient. The authoritative role lies in the

hands of high ranking officials of government. These high ranking officials

control the direction and meaning of discussion and guides communication

process by counseling and instruction to the general masses in decisions making

process. Meanwhile the role of general masses is expected to listen and obey.

This type of communication, between people and the government or elective

representatives is more instructive and less discussion oriented. Furthermore, the

propensity of people to follow blindly the authoritative impression of one's

46

person-hood makes the institutions less democratic, due to unbalanced

communication and less participatory approach.

The role of civil society in decision making process is insignificant in the

government‟s institutions. This represents the absence of important actor in the

decision making process. Active involvement of civil society will generate more

participatory approach in decision making process. The civil society will give

emphasizes on participatory problem solving approach to generate a social

responsiveness behaviour in public by understanding the problem, this will also

create the baseline for stable culture. Although the challenges in this process may

appear to be difficult to overcome but putting continuous efforts with

determinations will give us more sustainable solution in the long term Indeed

such changes will also result in long term benefits to the community. In the

process the people will take some time in adoption of new rules and realize their

roles of active participations. The management of WEEE is kind of a problem in

which the role of civil society is necessary for decision making and relevant

participatory representation.

In Pakistan, the monopolization and autocratic organizational structure of

government, this political structure does not support cross-sectorial community

participatory involvement processes in a significant way. Poor governance

remains a key issue and had a negative impact on social services delivery. At the

same time, the cultural characteristics advocate that general public are used to

having decisions made for them, therefore, there interest in involvement and

participate level to 'make a difference' in the decision making process at different

levels are currently very low. The ambiguity of power relations in culture disables

equal representation of opinions and can turn group dynamics in participatory

processes, which aim to cut across social stratification, into oppressive and non-

representative forums. The most fundamental feature of Activity Theory approach

is shift from multiple to collective cognition. Multiple cognitions prevail when

participants maintain mutual isolation from one another. The aim is, therefore, to

enable participants to define their stance more with respect to others for collective

good, rather than individual, within their distinct group identity. The Pakistani

culture plays a significant positive role in it. It emphasizes the importance and

value of interpersonal relationships and seeing one's individuality always against

the collective backdrop. This trait could be very helpful for shifting to collective

cognition in the social learning process.

In Pakistan, educational cultural fails to deliver sufficient knowledge and

information that is the necessary for preparation of problems occur in modern

development. Educational system has many serious flaws that do not address

many critical contemporary social and environmental issues (WEEE problems

47

included) that are generating at local, national or global level. Information is often

being memorized without reference and conceptualization into reality; therefore,

pedagogical methods do not inspire development of thoughtfulness and critical

reflection on knowledge presented. The system also does not encourage

development of critical thinking and cultural sensitivity by encouraging critical

reflection towards norms in a specific culture that are taken for granted (e.g.

hierarchy, authoritativeness and emphasis on financial transformation) in order to

understand the critical roles played by values and beliefs in shaping of the

educational cultural. Deficient information and lack of training to solve the

problems that originate with modern development, the pillars of educational

system such as teaching techniques, pedagogical methods and syllabus do not

encourage understanding and contextualization of knowledge, or help

establishing a society that is able to critically reflect on their behaviour, values

and attitudes in a way that reveals the limitations of those, and thus creates a

potential for social change, were identified as focal challenges arising from

educational system.

Educational structure in Pakistan is confined to closed systems that have

little impact on societal activities that occur outside in the real world. Therefore

new educational system is the need of the country that is based on activity theory

which comprises knowledge, social learning and development that can transform

traditional educational work into a new outlook depending on the need of the

changing world. It is also serves as forms of human agency in educational

practices. Through the deployment of new educational system based on

knowledge and social learning community will in a position to find more suitable

solution for their problems that is based on thoughtful preparation and

participation of communities.

A multitude of factors might affect the success of activity process that it

depends on as well as the willingness of social actors in case of WEEE

management i.e. government, industrialist, importers, exporters, consumers to

work together and learn from participation to generate new ideas to handle the

complex problems. Pakistani culture holds many asymmetries in power

distribution that can have an effect on the communication process, communal

participation, and subsequently on social learning process in problem solving

techniques. In Pakistan the main limitations that are identified in problem solving

approach are: deficiency in stable cultural environment, culturally viable

communication; apartness between higher and lower social strata; the

authoritative ideal of person-hood and the rise of individualism over collective

orientation. Limitations deriving from a more dynamically interactive level of

participatory problem solving are: over-reliance on governmental institutions to

deal with occurring problems, precipitating form of the more stable cultural

48

system, and education system affecting the flow of communication and

interaction. Social response in participatory problem solving is likely to be

insufficient, without a broader awareness amongst people about the problem. It

also indicates the need to integrate the 'stable' culture into the problem solving

equation, since it can also exhibit limitations to social learning approach.

Although the challenges for achieving effective social learning may then appear

to be considerably harder to overcome, the efforts will probably turn out more

sustainable in the long term.

Social learning through Activity theory in Pakistan can still evolve through

time and other problem solving approaches may be applied for such as regulatory,

technical or market, although these could potentially play a complementary role

in solving the problem. The existence of participation processes and spaces does

not necessarily imply that social learning will eventuate and contribute positively

to better WEEE management. In Pakistan, the segmented nature of

communications spaces is another problem because discussion remains

ineffective where age, gender, rural/urban, status difference, and even geography

create communication gaps and asymmetries between different groups of people

who are all an essential part of problem solving social learning. This has negative

effects for more sustainable WEEE management, which needs to occur with

cross-sectorial participation involving all relevant stakeholders.

49

Figure 3.14: Solution Modeling for WEEE Management in Pakistan

Regularize the WEEE Import

System

Record inland production of

WEEE

Manufacturing industry to be

environmental friendly

Safe disposal

Educational Institute

1. Knowledge Awareness

2. Knowledge Building

3. Knowledge Deployment

Public participation

Awareness of WEEE

hazards

Responsible reuse

Re-cycling

WEEE disposal

Solution via mature policy

Planned Dumping

Proper utilization

Develop WEEE Inventory System

EPR policy

Civil Society Involvement

Design Eco-friendly product

Develop methods for volume

reduction

Develop appropriate recycling

process

Methods for reuse, repair, upgrade

Solution & Improvement Strategic Initiative

Adopt responsible public behaviour

Adopt Eco shopping decision

Solution Modeling

50

The study provides a cost effective and credible conceptual policy. The aim

of the policy framework is to develop and strengthen the strategic system to

improve the existing deficiencies, discrepancies, any synergies, remove

irregularities, avoid conflicts and fill gaps. The policy „framework‟ technique is

beneficial to eclectic tenure, as it can accommodate many thematic, regional,

decentralized and local strategies from current scenario to future prediction.

Whenever a new policy is implemented it required challenges tasks to handle

because the outcomes of the policy will affect all the main development issues

that comfort the society: health, transport, energy, water and food supply, natural

and cultural resource conservation, and so on. In short, the overall objective of the

policy is to gain sustainability in the administration sectors and livelihood.

Activity based policies involve the process of consultation, knowledge, education,

covenant, debate, social learning and ultimately create behaviour change in

people. The fruitful results can be achieved if all the relevant actors are fully

involved in the decision making process. Usually limited resources are available

in the developing countries to keep a strategy process alive. The policy processes

that promote continuous improvement are efficient way to build human capacity

and if the process is modified continuously it will improve the efficiency and

effectiveness of the designed system. The system would not plan everything, but

would largely aim to guide change in circumstances of uncertainty, and to

encourage a culture of experimentation and innovation.

51

CHAPTER 4

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The ambition of the study is to understand how to manage the WEEE in a

sustainable way. In this regard, the chapter provides an overview of

methodological approach used such as research philosophy, research method and

its justification.

4.1 PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION OF THE STUDY

The philosophical foundation of the study is based on activity theory.

Activity theory has been proposed as one of the possible approach to solve the

problems of developing collaborative and interactive systems (Crawford and

Hasan, 2006; Zurita and Nussbaum, 2007). The Activity theory strengthens the

thesis to effectively handle the issues in designing sustainable WEEE

management flows.

Human Activity Theory is used in this research to methodically design a

theoretical framework for the analysis of systems development. The systems

development is a socially collaborative activity, which has benefits both as a

theoretic application and an applied instrument (Kaptelinin et al., 1999). It is

also a suitable philosophy to use in understanding and resolving the problems

that involve participatory approach and related environmental problems (Liaw et

al., 2007). In this context, designed framework based on activity theory‟s

perspective can be distinguished by providing a way for observing the patterns

of human activity in terms of attaining goals, objectives and purposes, truths,

facts, consciousness, focus of consideration and tools through analyzing WEEE

data. In other words designed WEEE framework view the fundamentals within a

dialectic procedure between technical and social, subjectivity and objectivity,

individual and collective, learning and doing and also tacit and explicit

knowledge (Crawford and Hasan, 2006).

In WEEE management through activity theory that involves simulations

of knowledge building, perceptions and artefacts to guide the design of WEEE

management collaborative learning activities process (Karlsson and Wistrand,

2006). In collaborative learning environment people are inspire to ask questions,

making enquiries, elucidating and mitigating other point of views, articulating

reasoning and elaborate upon the received knowledge. Thus activity theory gives

52

clear directions; how people can social participate in collaborative activities

while interacting with the management of WEEE.

The Human Activity Theory promotes the concept of stable culture

through the conceptualization of social arena of persistent vigorous

collaboration; its value enhances and became important on the level of

individual or group interactions where problem solving decisions can be

produced.

4.1.1 Uses of Activity Theory

Activity theory provide a proper methodology, strongly predictive theory,

work as powerful and clarifying descriptive instrument that give a procedural

paradigm to carry out the necessary investigation particularly in relation to

circumstances where the intermediation of technology occupies a vital role. The

misconception about Activity Theory that it cannot provide a strong base for

research had been rectify by many researchers and successfully applied Activity

Theory to investigate human activity in a number of research fields that

comprises, education, human computer interaction, e-learning, workplace

activity (Nardi, 1996; Kaptelinin, 1996; Kuutti, 1996; Engeström, 2001).

Therefore, wide-range of aspects of activity theory has been employed to obtain

different angles of vision on management and educational learning contexts. For

example, Scanlon and Issroff (2005) had applied Activity theory in Higher

Education: evaluating learning technologies. In a similar vein, Yamazumi (2006)

had applied Activity theory in the transformation of pedagogic practice and Van

Aalst and Hill (2006) have used activity theory to examine knowledge building

in a primary classroom. Thorne (2003) had used the concept of cultures and

other researchers like Benson, Lawler, and Whitworth (2008) had studied

interactions between micro levels to macro levels ranging from activities of

everyday individual practices to institutional factors. The brief summary shows

that Activity theory has been successfully mapped onto different technical and

educational contexts to offer new perspectives and insights ranging from the

effect of a professional development programme (an artefact) on the

transformation of behaviour to those studies that offers insights into historical

and developmental factors related to the introduction of a new artefact in any

context.

53

4.1.2 Methodological Implications for Activity Theory

Qualitative research strive to ensure that the findings and interpretations

of the research results (the researcher„s constructions) are actually credible

representations of the participant‟s understandings and experiences

(constructions). Brought within the domains of activity theory, the statement

highlights the need to be sensitive to cultural mediation. This study can be

conceptualised as an activity system directed towards the overall goal of

conducting original research which provides a contribution to knowledge and

shaped by various tools ranging from a management to the concept of activity

theory itself.

Included in these tools are the beliefs and assumptions (both explicit and

implicit), bring to the activity. Activity theory exhorts to be cognisant of how the

collection and analysis of participant constructions are shaped by mediating

tools, including beliefs, values, expectations, and previous experiences. By using

activity theory, to self-interrogation and interrogation by others in the forms of

researcher reflexivity, participant checks of researcher interpretations, and peer

checks of the data analysis.

Activity theory demands that instances of participation-in-the-world

should be the object of study, in other words, research must be directed towards

the real-life activities people engage in including the motives, objects, and

outcomes which drive activity and the social and cultural relationships amongst

groups of people (Jonassen, 2000). In addition, as activity systems are artefact-

mediated, that mean meditation must receive close attention, particularly in

relation to the concept of distributed cognition which asserts that knowledge and

understanding do not lie solely in the individual, but are shared collectively with

the community through the use of cultural artefacts. It follows that the

description of culture, and in particular the identification of cultural artefacts

such as tools, social rules, and community roles, becomes a critical task for the

researcher. In response to this and drawing from Thorne (2003) who describes

local cultures of use which develop around technological tools, the use of

ethnographic techniques including interviews, accounts, and observations in

order to describe and understand the culture which surrounds the learning

activities under study.

It seems entirely consistent to align a theory based on social

constructivism with a qualitative methodology as both emphasise the constructed

nature of reality and the relative nature of knowledge. More specifically,

qualitative methodologies which focus on obtaining rich and detailed

54

information about human experience, and in particular approaches which draw

from the field of ethnography, are well positioned to describe, explain, and

enhance understanding of situated activity embedded within a social, cultural,

and historical matrix. In addition, activity theory approaches should employ a

variety of data collection methods in order to include many different

perspectives. Activity systems are multi-voiced, in other words, they incorporate

multiple perspectives from participants who import their unique personal

histories into new social contexts. These histories which may include personal

values, experiences of learning, and future aspirations influence how individuals

make meaning as they participate in activity (Blin, 2004). This approach also

allows broader perspectives to be obtained which reside outside the local activity

system and show how a learning activity connects with wider activity systems.

In addition, multiple temporal perspectives can be obtained as the context is

viewed over time, offering insights into the ongoing and dynamic relationships

between system components (Barab et al., 2002; Yamagata-Lynch, 2003).

4.1.3 Activity Theory in Policy Formation

The objective of applying Human Activity System Modeling approach in

policy development is to gain sustainability in the administration sectors and

livelihood that involve the process of consultation, knowledge, education,

covenant, debate, participatory approach, social learning and ultimately create

behaviour change in people. The Activity based policy processes promote

continuous improvement and are efficient way to build human capacity if this

process is modified continuously it will improve the efficiency and effectiveness

of the designed system. Although the challenges for achieving effective activity

based participatory approach seen harder to achieved but in the long run it may

give sustainable policy solutions. The outcomes of these policies will affect all

the other main development issues that comfort the society: health, transport,

energy, water and food supply, natural and cultural resource conservation, and

so on.

The key issues that need immediate contemplation in WEEE management

are: technical and policy-level interventions, enhancement and coordination

among different stakeholders, implementation of law and capacity building of

the institutions and improve in the awareness of general public. The fruitful

results can be achieved if all the relevant actors are fully involved in the decision

making process. Therefore Human Activity System develops an approach which

enables to enhance the understanding of the concepts in research. It also

underpins the complex and dynamic human interaction problems and practices

55

through collection of actors that follows different roles and rules in the form of

activities, methods and also guides to improve the work processes to gain better

outcomes and results.

4.2 RESEARCH PARADIGM

The study follows post-positivist approach as a core philosophic

reference. In post-positivist approach scientific reasoning and common sense

reasoning are essential part of it. Post positivist approach follows the specific

procedures that assure observations are verifiable, accurate and consistent.

The Ethnography research strategy was adopted for this study. The

rationale of ethnography is to explicate the social world the research topics dwell

in the way in which they explain it (Saunders et al., 2007). The emphasis in

ethnography is on unfolding and inferring socio-cultural behaviour that deals

with the problems associated with the living conditions and culture of the group

by observing the behaviour through field work and participation. The systematic

flow of research methodology is shown in figure-4.1

Figure 4.1 Systematic flow of Research Methodology (adopted and

modified William, 2004)

Positivism Post- Positivism

Scientific Method

Ethnography Phenomenology Action Research

Survey Document Analysis

Observation Participant

Interviews

Paradigm/ Assumption

Possible Methodologies

Data Types

Mode of Analysis

Range of Methods

Quantitative Qualitative

Statistics Thematic Analysis

56

4.2.1 Interviews

Unstructured interviews were conducted for the exploration of idea and to

gain in-depth understanding of the particular WEEE phenomenon in Pakistan.

Interview is one of the most appropriate technique, when working within an

interpretive research paradigm. Unstructured interviews were conducted with

various stakeholders involved in the trading of WEEE and unstructured

interviews were also conducted to the personals involved in the policy making.

That includes government custom officers; field staff appointed on the check

posts, custom officers working in the main office and shop keepers; dealing in

new and old products. The communications with the main actors was conducted

either in person or via telephone, with some additional information gathered

through subsequent emails.

4.3 RESEARCH ROAD MAP

The thesis research was conducted over four stages, with the first one

being multidisciplinary literature review that focuses the theoretical aspects of

WEEE management with positive and negative effects of WEEE management

were examined. The review of relevant literature provided a theoretical

foundation upon which the research is based, developing a conceptual

framework for Policy formation. The literature analysis employed aspects of the

Grounded Theory approach. Literature review cover the aspect of pervious

conducted researches by the other researchers of the similar domain as well as

those related literature that cover the scientific investigations to gain the in-depth

understanding of the theoretical aspects. The initial review was conducted by

deep-down study of the policies of the developed and developing countries.

Meta-narrative approach was used to synthesize the evidence in understanding

the complex policy-making issues.

In the second step, present activity flow of WEEE and problem modeling

for Pakistan was developed. The Problem mapped activity showed the traditional

hierarchy of waste management starting from import to reuse, refurbishment,

remanufacturing, recycling, recovery, cannibalization and finally the end of

product‟s life by dumping disposing of in landfills. Activity theory works as

magnify lens in dealing the problems that are generated in the domain of socio-

cultural environment through which designers can visualize and analyze human

activity systems in a broader sense. Clear and refined ideas are the requisite for

finding a viable and practical answer of the problem that arises in the

interdisciplinary domains to gain the concept of sustainability. The Problem

57

Modeling framework identifies the cause of problems that describes the

empirical pathway regarding how problems of interdisciplinary have been

actually addressed in achieving the target and helpful in designing the policy

oriented social research.

The third stage was to collect, compile, and compare data. Grounded

theory and other qualitative approaches were used for developing the strategic

framework. The import of WEEE in Pakistan was considered and WEEE

volumes were calculated. The prevailing WEEE flow at the national level was

also examined and mapped. Since there available little data and printed literature

on WEEE in Pakistan, most of the information in the study were acquired

through examination of documents and official statistics from Pakistan Customs

Department. After the literature review and data analyses solution modeling was

done.

Solution Modeling framework emphasis on the accruing features that

affect the positivity of subject elucidations, the purpose and the sense creation

of single or group actions and operations. It gives a suitable model for the

understanding of the humanoid knowledge, requirements and shaped creativity

that designed a effective system of the emergent management of the waste

(Zurita and Nussbaum, 2007). Therefore Activity Solution Modeling can be

characterized as adopting the strategies of the cognitive theoretical core of

discipline, deciding what questions make sense, what kind of problems can arise

and can be solved, what methods of investigation are available, and implying the

orientation of research according to theoretically interesting problems. The

dominance of the disciplinary perspective in research is institutionalized both at

the cognitive and the social level. The essential parameters of the Solution

Modeling for WEEE management are education system, governance, role of

civil society, role of actor, inventory system.

Lastly, the Grounded Theory approach was applied again to fulfill the

primary objective of the research, which is the development and proposal of

Policy Framework for WEEE management, by defining rules and roles for the

community comprising of government, consumers, industrialist, exporters,

importers, and manufacturers. The policy formation through activity theory

gives clear directions; how people can social participate in collaborative

activities while interacting with the management of WEEE. Therefore policy

formed on the principle of participation can give the sustainability in WEEE

management.

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4.4 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

In the social science domain that investigates complex issues which

comprises topic like legal, political, economic and cultural aspects. The

multifaceted nature of the social science researches must concern with “moral

integrity” to ensure that research development process and its findings are

trustworthy and reliable. Therefore it is compulsory for a social researcher

shepherding research linking humans to apply for ethical clearance.

The methods for collecting information from the participants needs

informed consents, which means that the respondent of the research must be

fully educated about the threats and harms occur in the research process and the

participant must give their consent to participate. Furthermore, ethical standards

also require that researcher not put participants in a potentially harmful situation.

Research ethics hence speak about to the manner in which the research activities

occur, that originate from the research topic, question, method of data collection

to the analysis of data in a moral, ethical and meticulous way.

In this study, the researcher was vigilant to guard the rights of

confidentiality, privacy and anonymity. The way in which information is handled

is confidentiality. Anonymity in research refers as that obtained information

should not be coupled with an individual or the individual‟s organisation in any

way. Anonymity is protected through the use of code names. The partakers of the

research were accordingly informed about the purpose of the research and they

consent to being interviewed for the research purpose. This is the reason why

respondent‟s identities and personal details were not disclosed or included in the

research.

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CHAPTER 5

WEEE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR PAKISTAN

„Policy‟ is a broad guideline for decision making that links the foundation

of strategy with its implementation (Lodhi and Ahmad, 2008). „Strategy‟ is

defined as a plan to reach goals in terms of systematic actions to be taken by

different actors at all levels. Planning an effective and sustainable WEEE

management policy requires an understanding of wide range of needs and

preferences of stakeholders and general public. Therefore, economical and

efficient operation of a WEEE management program requires participation of all

stake holders. To ensure public ownership and maintain long term programs

support, the planner should involve all important stake holders who have a role

in WEEE management. The public must know the sort of behaviour expected

from them to ensure the success of the program.

5.1 WEEE STRATEGIC POLICY INITIATIVE FOR PAKISTAN

In planning and implementing a WEEE management policy, the degree to

which the public is involved in strategic decision making is a crucial determinant

of proper functioning of the system as well as its sustainability. Public

participation is also defined as information/ communication (I/C) for the public

at large. Involving public in the knowhow process of waste management

requires a significant educational effort by the community. Only an efficacious

public educational program can secure public involvement and participation in

the community‟s WEEE management program, right from the decision making

to the successful implementation. An ineffective and imperfect education

program may confuse the public, reducing public confidence and inviting

hostility towards the program. Therefore, a consistent and ongoing educational

program is necessary for the success of WEEE management. Since social

considerations such as social diversity, age, demographic characteristics,

ethnicity, economic affordability, gender difference, poverty level, class

structure and personal choices are relevant for all aspects of WEEE

management, therefore, an analysis of the existing behaviour of key

stakeholders, like attitude, perception and values, are necessary for the evolution

of a suitable public education program to secure public participation and

involvement.

60

Currently, all strategic planning is dependent on knowledge. Knowledge

works as a fuel in grooming any field under development in the world. Novel

ideas and innovations are spreading faster than ever due to knowledge.

Furthermore, knowledge based growth plays a critical role in country‟s

development. According to the activity theory educational knowledge is the key

for change. The knowledge can be deployed into three aspects, namely

knowledge awareness, knowledge building, and knowledge deployment, that

contribute to scientific development and sustainable growth, especially in the

management of WEEE. Exactly how these aspects influence a society is the

matter of deliberation in the following subsections.

5.1.1 Knowledge Awareness

Activities based knowledge awareness programs are the key for change

and should be adopted to control the menace of WEEE. Public knowledge

awareness programs should highlight the ill effects of WEEE on the society and

the environment. The involvement of general public in the process through

offering of their observations, opinions, and suggestions is essential part of

discovering a solution of WEEE problem. A proper mechanism should be

adopted through public knowledge awareness programs to obtain feedback from

public on regular basis. News casters, journalists, opinion editors, authors and

researchers should mention the potential of health hazards associated with

WEEE in news, discussion forums and televisions programs.

5.1.2 Knowledge Building

Knowledge building is the second major aspect of activity theory.

Knowledge building can take place when institutions take actions to provide the

scientific and technical knowledge that is essential for innovation and the

diffusion of innovations. The obvious type of support for knowledge building

would be in the form of sponsoring research and development for information

systems and recycling technologies related to WEEE. While this is the most

important factor for developed countries who try to be the manufacturers of

technology, it can also be used to innovate new ways of using existing

technology. In developing countries, there exist no major government initiatives

to build knowledge related WEEE management domain. There are considerable

possibilities for cooperation, through knowledge and expertise sharing related to

WEEE, to aid its management and possible solution, within the wider region of

developing countries experiencing the same problems.

61

5.1.3 Knowledge Deployment

Activity emphasis on knowledgeable and well trained population is not

just a requirement but also an essentiality for the management for WEEE in

developing countries. Four mechanisms for knowledge deployment typically

exist. Firstly, governments can intervene in regulatory role by ensuring common

education of the effects of WEEE on environment by teaching relevant subjects

in schools, particularly at secondary level and higher level. The use of public

institutions to provide basic information technology training to marginalized

groups in society is the second mechanism that can be used by the governments.

Thirdly, partnerships with private and public or other social institutions/ sectors

are another way for governments to use their influence and assist in the

provision of education to the general population, or to promote knowledge

deployment by training a group of potential users of the innovation. Finally,

knowledge can also be deployed through multinational corporations or through

knowledgeable individuals migrating to the country.

5.2 WEEE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Considering the severity of the problem of WEEE, it is imperative that

management options be adopted to handle all the stakes holders to control the

bulk of WEEE issues. The best option to control the flow of WEEE is to

minimize its quantity or volume. Manufacturers, designers, and industrialists

should ensure that the product is designed and built such that it can be reused,

repaired, or possibly upgraded. Recycling and reuse of devices are secondary

options to reduce the volume of WEEE. Emphasis should be put on using low

toxic easily recyclable and eco-friendly elements that can be shipped back to the

manufacturers or concerned establishments for refurbishment, remanufacturing,

disassembly, or reuse in other devices. Extraction and reuse of elements such as

plastic, copper, aluminum, glass, etc. reduces the quantity of WEEE. These

options can potentially conserve the energy and withhold the toxic compounds

being released in air or dumped in sea water.

Activity modeling suggests that there are three major actors, who could

work for the WEEE management and gain sustainability in the society.

1. Government

2. Industries/ importers/ manufacturers

3. Consumers

62

Based on the Activity theory, data analysis, documentations analysis,

interviews conduct by various stake holders and observation in the field,

following are the management options and recommendations suggested for

government, industries/ importers/ manufacturers and consumers.

5.2.1 Government Role

The most import protagonist role in WEEE management is that of the

government. Government is responsible for the proper management of WEEE

and should take the following steps for it:

The foundation towards framing a sustainable policy for WEEE

management is developing a robust inventory system in the country. To

evaluate the total volume (inflow plus inland generation) of WEEE in the

country. Due to absence of inventory system an unprecedented volume

of toxic waste generated and transported remains largely hidden from the

eye of the regulatory institutions. Present Inventory system of WEEE are

based on models of obsolescence and not based on actual physical

inventories. Apart from imported electronic waste, the domestic

generation of WEEE has also contributed a significant impact in the total

inventory of the material. Moreover, the calculation for inventory of

WEEE‟s end of life is based on urban environments neglecting the rural

scenario; which is also a significant source of production of WEEE.

Therefore, proper inventory system should be introduced in the country

and if existing inventories system have some deficiencies that should be

modified.

Adequate system of laws, controls and administrative procedures should

be providing by the government for hazardous waste compounds or

elements contained in WEEE. Established inventory system will provide

data for developing laws on WEEE management. If any indirect laws

exist concerning WEEE management should be reviewed and revamped.

Therefore in the management of WEEE issue, the development and

enforcement of laws is a crucial step.

Every country has its own socio- economic and cultural factors, therefore

foreign laws are not suitable for every country‟s requirements. Therefore

Governments should develop an appropriate legislative framework for

WEEE management appropriate for the specific needs of the country.

63

In drafting the WEEE management policy framework the government

should involve the general public and civil societies. Policies made with

the engagement of civil society have firm footing and that leads the

country towards more sustainable development. Encouragement of

NGOs and other organizations by the government to help find a solution

to the nation's WEEE issues.

To control the existing WEEE situation the Government should also

impose a ban on the import of electrical and electronic equipment older

than three years. The technological change is so rapid that the older

product will obsolete very soon and increase the volume of the WEEE

junk.

The inventory system would also help in maintaining the trade purposes

of the country. It will calculate the volume of WEEE in country; on the

basis of it WEEE import/ export policy can be design and the country

will be in a position to import WEEE according to the need and

requirement of the country. The record keeping should also include the

WEEE statistics of production, import, export, sales of each product,

recycle and reuse generated within country. Future requirement of

WEEE import can also be calculated in the same manner.

WEEE dumping in the country should consider a strict offence. Where

the laws are flouted by local populations or foreigners, stringent penalties

must be levied. Further custodial sentences are preferred option rather

than to pay paltry fines.

Governments should enforce the policies like product take-back or

implement the extended producer responsibility (EPR) principle in the

country that makes the manufacture and producers responsible to collect

their product after the last user. The primary goals of these policies is to

reduce the resource, materials conservation, waste prevention and design

for more environmentally friendly products and ending of material loops

to promote sustainable environment development. The government

should take care in implementing the EPR or other schemes as original

as applied in developed countries; they should design their own EPR

system based upon their capacity and socioeconomic condition of the

country. They should also implement such schemes in phases starting

with giving incentives e.g. at first no fee payment, free collection points,

manufacturer should give incentives and rebate; by buying old products

model and gave the latest models of goods with less price etc.

64

Governments should enforce the polluter to pay fine or accept product

return or introduce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) so that

the manufacturers can be obliged to accept product returns.

The Government should impose a financial guarantee on the producers/

manufacturers; producers/ manufacturers to collect their WEEE products

from the markets, in response to their fulfillment of take-back obligation.

Strict regulations and heavy fines should be imposed by the

Governments on businesses that do not apply waste prevention practices

and adopt recovery methods in their production facilities.

Governments should developed opportunities for healthier partnership

with producers and merchants dealing in WEEE business for providing

better recycling services especially in the informal areas. Informal sector

in the country should be organized to create a formal sector by providing

training and awareness to the participants because livelihood of millions

of people is dependent on WEEE industry. Policies should be designed

to ensure maximum participation and involvement of public and private

sectors as well as of major stakeholders for finding a solution to WEEE

management problem.

Government should control illegal trade. Restrictions on import and

export of WEEE movement through proper inventory system should be

imposed. Record keeping should also include WEEE production, recycle,

and reuse.

Government should sign agreements with developed nations for

technical assistance to upgrade facilities for handling the WEEE

equipment. Effective research should be done with the collaboration of

the developed nations to find potential solutions of the WEEE problem.

Government should also sign international and regional agreements with

developed and developing countries to control the trans-border

movement of WEEE to curb illegal trade. Special emphasizes should be

given on regional level pacts. Committees should be established for

controlling and limiting the trans-border movement stop smuggling of

WEEE between countries.

A well-defined law that provides WEEE regulation, management options

for proper disposal of hazardous wastes is required so that the

government‟s empowered agency manage, regulate, organize and

supervise the relevant activities of the concerned departments. Therefore

65

the government should set up regulatory agencies at federal and

provincial levels. At provincial level, these regulatory agencies can be

further broken up at district level. They are assigned the power and

responsibility of co-coordinating and consolidating the regulatory

functions of the various government authorities concerning disposal of

WEEE and hazardous substances generated by WEEE.

The agency establish under this law will institute as bridge between

government and industries. A basic description of the responsibilities of the

agency is discussed as under:

i. Developed better working relationship between different stakes holders

i.e. Government, industries, importers, exporters and consumers.

ii. Gather basic information on the substances from factories, industries,

producers, dealers and importers. Developed and maintain an inventory

data base system of these substances. The inventory data base also

contains the information about toxicity and potential harmful effects of

these materials.

iii. Take measures for the involvement of the industries. Give incentives

based suggestion to the government for the establishment of laboratory

and other equipments in the industrial sectors that are used for the testing

of these hazardous materials. Involvement of the industries will enhance

the experimental and Investigational facility and enhance the research

work contribution. In this way the hazards involved in manufacturing,

treating, handling, distribution and disposal of WEEE should also be

minimized. This also lowers the financial burden on the government

expenditure.

iv. Government Agency should develop policies and management

framework to control the end-of-life (EoL) products. Implemented

policies should deal with all the processes for WEEE management, i.e.

collecting, sorting, recycling, recovery, dumping, as well as the safe

extraction of precious elements present in WEEE products.

v. Agency should developed global standards and criteria for the

management of WEEE. The process of development of these criteria

should involve the consultation with both the developed and developing

nations of the world.

66

vi. As the study suggests that education is the key of change therefore

Government Agency must encourage awareness related programs for the

development towards sustainability. The awareness program should

focus on the calibration of toxic waste management, environmental

monitoring and the regulation of hazardous waste-disposal. Educate

WEEE generators on reuse or recycling options. Give inspiration to the

valuable reuse of WEEE and boost business activities that use discarded

materials. Set up programs so as to promote recycling among citizens

and businesses enterprises. Informal sectors

vii. Government Agency should also monitor the impact on human health of

the workers involved in the activities concerning or related to the

management of electrical and electronic wastes.

5.2.2 The Role of Producers, Industries, Importers & Manufacturers

The producers, industries, importers, and manufacturers are considered as

the most important contributors of the maximum influence they have on the

life‟s cycle assessment processes of the product. They have the ability for

change be held responsible for taking the utilization of their resourcefulness in

creativity for modification and have the knowledge and the prospect to change

both upstream as well as downstream processes. They should be required to

phase down and where feasible, phase out, the use of hazardous substances

contained in electronic devices. Providing manufacturers with incentives,

specific recovery and recycling goals will help in the development of a

convenient and effective collection infrastructure for the management of WEEE.

Some of the important roles assignments by the producers, industries, importers,

and Manufacturers are discussed in the following sections:

Companies should apply and adopt waste minimization techniques and

apply “recyclable production system” in their industries. The purpose of

recyclable production system is to design effectively to recover and reuse

every substance contained inside WEEE. Such a system will control

WEEE quantity significantly.

A waste management team should be constituted within each industry for

handling the WEEE. The team should be made responsible for the

preparation, monitoring, periodic review, revision or updating and

implementing the WEEE management plan, and for supervising all

67

actions taken in compliance with the provisions of the rules set by the

government.

Businesses should adopt their own policies for effective management of

WEEE. The workforces involved in the management of WEEE including

policy makers, control and operational staffs are highly qualified and

trained. They should provide advice to businesses on limiting the

environmental damage by examining the manufacturing process.

Design sustainable products that have greater longevity. The new

designed products have also feature for easy to refurbish and reuse,

disassemble or recycle, without affecting product quality and

performance. The changes made to the design of products often give the

greatest benefits, both environmentally and economically and it will

generate less junk.

Industries should introduce a labeling system. Proper information is affix

on the labeled about the hazardous materials contain in the electronic

products. They are helpful in controlling operational methods in the final

disposal of WEEE.

Design of products should facilitate easy recycle-ability and reuse-

ability. Measures should be made to minimize the hazardous waste

contents especially carbon contents in the equipments. Standardize

components can be used that can have the ability for easy disassembly.

Industries should develop the WEEE Collection Centers for the proper

disposal of electronics equipments. The center is responsible for data

collection, proper inventory, issue permits for establishment of collection

centers, collection of fees and collection, educate the workers, transport

of the WEEE at various sites to the factories that are utilizing the WEEE

junk and save disposal of WEEE.

Education and awareness program should also run by manufacturers

especially dealing in computer systems and its accessories, mini screens,

and other electronic gadgets. They should be responsible for educating

the consumers and the general public about potential health and

environmental effects. Education and awareness program must also

inform the general public for proper disposal materials management

processes.

68

Components and peripherals of biodegradable substances. Corporations

should be encouraged to promote the use of biodegradable and eco-

friendly compounds or elements. The manufacturers should look into

„green‟ packaging options for the management of WEEE.

The manufacturers should work on the concept of Re-evaluate the use of

cheap products design. The concept will help in achieving the target to

re-cycling product cheaply, in this way the recycling material does not

have any inherent value that‟s is the base for the creation of informal

sector. This will also lessen the chances for development of the informal

sector in the developing countries.

Joint collaboration should be adopted by the manufacturers, distributors,

and retailers in solving the WEEE problem. In this respect one company

should make joint venture with other company in collecting, disposing

and recycling processes. Create Electronic Support Technology Centers

that share manufacturing and remanufacturing techniques.

5.2.3 Consumers Role

The current level of awareness in consumers regarding the existence and

dangers associated with WEEE are extremely low. That is because the WEEE

being generated in developing countries has relatively low volume as compared

to developed countries. Consumers have three different types of roles to play:

role in utilization, role in purchasing, and role in disposing of WEEE products.

5.2.3.1 Consumers Role in Utilization

Consumers should follow the guidelines of waste prevention and waste

minimization and should purchase a product of multipurpose partaking to

prevent houses from becoming junkyards.

Borrowing or renting items, instead of purchasing them at the first place,

achieves source minimization. If the item is needed for rare usage or for short

duration, purchasing of it should be avoided altogether. Renting a product for

evaluating its credibility, features, and usefulness offers cost saving and

prevention of WEEE buildup advantages.

69

Gifting or denoting the discarded electronics equipment for reuse prolongs

the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste management

stream for a longer period. In gifting or denoting some precaution and conditions

should applied in donating electronic items that the equipments should be in

proper working condition and have long life time. Reuse is not just

environmentally friendly but also socially beneficial. By gifting used electronics

equipment to NGO, educational institutes, cast strapped people or one lets the

less privileged class of society have access to the equipment that would

otherwise be impossible, or at least very difficult, for them to own.

5.2.3.2 Consumer’s Role in Purchasing

Urgent measures are vital to address the WEEE issue from consumer‟s

point of view. Consumers must make the „Eco-shopping, decision, i.e. decision

making that involves the assessment, through judgement, of wastage. When

selecting or buying electronic products, the consumers must consider the

following Eco-shopping:

Contains fewer toxic components

Made of recycle-able components

Energy-efficient products

Multi-purpose goods

Ability for easy upgrading or disassembly

Contain minimum packaging material

Buy products that under EPR or lies take back facility

Buy product with „Eco Label‟

Contains limited carbon components

Pay for recycling

Buy durable goods and equipments

Buy new and latest version equipments

Buy products when old product is disposed of.

Preferential purchase of long-lasting, recyclable and repairable goods is

another way of source reduction strategy. Assessing product quality will result in

both materials and cost saving over a product‟s lifetime.

70

5.2.3.3 Consumers Role in Disposing

Consumers should never dispose-off WEEE with garbage and other

household wastes. WEEE spread due to improper disposal creates uncontrolled

and unhygienic conditions. This produces and breeds various types of insects

and infectious bacteria underneath them. Burning some substances contained in

WEEE produces dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls all of which

have the potential to cause various types of ailments including cancer. A more

preferred option is to segregate the WEEE contents at the site and sold or

donates it to various organizations.

Consumers should dispose the WEEE at the selected or designated site for

WEEE. Districts should facilitate in cooperative operation in the area to find

appropriate land for the construction of sheds in order to improve storage

conditions. This would make it possible to avoid open-air storage

(rain/leaching). Throwing the WEEE here and there will also spoil the

aesthetical beauty of the city.

The need of the hour is to limit the WEEE hazard by technical and policy-

level interventions, implementation and capacity building, and increased public

awareness so that today‟s challenge can be converted into an opportunity to deal

with future problems and set global credible standards concerning environmental

and occupational health.

A broad WEEE Management Policy Framework is an imminent necessity

for Pakistan. This system requires the involvements and concerted effort by all

the stakeholders for sustainable development of the country. The systematic

proposed WEEE management policy framework is illustrated in figure-4.1.

71

Figure 5.1: WEEE Management Policy Framework for Pakistan

Source Compiled

WEEE MANAGEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR PAKISTAN

Industry, Import & Export Organizations Consumer Government

Law making Authorities

Regulatory Authority

PEPA

CBR

Custom

Eco- Labeling

Standards

Issue Permits to Industries for WEEE collection

Tracking of Record of WEEE

Educate & Training for

industry and

consumers

Monitoring &

Evaluation

Department for WEEE Management

Buy long lasting Products

Inventory & Documentation

Create Collection Centers

Record & Managing

Collection of Fees

Design Eco

Friendly Products

Buy Recyclable Products

Buy Eco Friendly Products

Compliance with Permits

Recycle Products

Safety & Welfare of Workers

Safe Disposal of WEEE

Dispose at Collection

Points/ Centers

Pay for Collection

WEEE Materials

Pay Fine for not

throwing at

Disposal Sites

Tax Incentives

72

5.3 EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITIES (EPR)

The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was first

introduced by Lindhqvist in 1988 and formally introduced as an environment

protection policy strategy by the Swedish Ministry of Environment in 1990

(Aurora and Cason, 1995). EPR is defined as “policy approach in which

producers accept significant responsibility, financial & physical, for the

treatment or disposal of products” (OECD, 2001). The primary goals of EPR are

resource reduction and materials conservation, waste prevention, design for

more eco-friendly products and ending of material loops to promote sustainable

environmental development. The EPR policy strategy makes Original

Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) responsible for the collection and recovery of

end-of-life items.

Administrative, economics and informative are the basic instruments of

EPR by which the policy is implemented. The composition of these instruments

determines the precise forms of the EPR. Each instrument has its own

characteristic and use, subject to the type of product being considered under EPR

policies (Khetriwal et.al, 2009). The selection of policy instruments depends on

many factors such as environmental factors, political conditions, consumer‟s

attitude, role of international agreements, implementation process, cost of

implementation, flexibility, revenue capacity, and distributional equity and

integration with other policies. To policy goals can be achieved by applying

more than one instrument such as deposit or refund schemes, disposal fees,

material taxes or subsidies, standards, product leasing or labelling (Lindhqvist,

2003).

EPR instruments are implemented either on volunteer basis or mandatory

basis. Mandatory approaches involve setting up legal mechanisms such as

regulations and ordinances and the establishment of an appropriate authority,

especially for overseeing and sanctioning, to ensure compliance. Voluntary

approaches are the preferred form of implementing EPR strategies, mainly to

avoid the promulgation of national regulations (OECD, 2001; Jain and

Deshpanda, 2012).

EPR put the onus of the responsibility of the product on the producer; in

reality all the stake holders, such as government, industries/ importers/

manufacturers and the consumers in the management of WEEE have important

roles to play. All key stakeholders in an EPR system have their particular roles

and particular responsibilities of affecting the various parts in the management

of WEEE system. Assigning clear and well defined roles for each of the stake

73

holders is essential when designing an EPR system and sharing of responsibility

is an inherent part of EPR and is critical for policy‟s success. Consultation to the

stakeholders is the main ingredient of the EPR policy. Strong feedback is

essential for the success of the policy; weakest link will break the net of EPR

policy therefore it is necessary to create secure feedback loop.

Around the globe many countries applied the EPR approach to handle the

WEEE problem, similarly countries in Asian region such as Japan, Korea, or

Taiwan are also adopting similar this legislations (Ogushi and Kandlihar, 2007;

Nnorom and Osibanjo, 2008; Sinha et al. 2009) and other countries like china

and India are also trying to apply this concept in their respective countries.

Pakistan is also a developing country and had to follow the approach of others to

tackle the WEEE issue. As the Voluntary approaches is gaining popularity in

many developing countries in industries as well as government institutions. In

Pakistan, voluntary approaches are preferred in implementing EPR strategies,

usually to avoid the promulgation of national regulations as well as the

administration and compliance costs are lower as compared to mandatory

government regulations. Private sectors also prefer voluntary approach

(Segerson and Miceli, 1998; Paton, 2000). Voluntary programmes can be

initiated by individual companies, industries, or even the government, without

the legal requirement of participating in the program (Rennings et al., 1997). The

application to apply EPR as solutions is not so straightforward. Changing

consumerism proves to be one of the toughest challenges in the life cycle of

WEEE management. Behavioural change remains difficult, but not impossible to

observe; it‟s easy to notice the gap between citizens' concerns and their

consumption patterns.

Successful EPR program in Pakistan can be achieved through well-

defined targets, financial incentives offer, competition‟s neutrality and consumer

participation through education of the system. Its implementation is easy to

understand for all the stakeholders involved. Fee structure is the main hurdle in

implementation of EPR approach in Pakistan. To avoid high price in the market,

the fee structure should be well designed. It also provides strong incentives for

improving the lifecycle of products during upstream stages of product design

and development; it also reduces the quantities of toxic materials present in

WEEE products.

EPR program in Pakistan would stimulate the consumer to choose more

environmentally friendly products and reduce waste generation by promoting a

higher secondary usage of products and material, without compromising

environmental concerns. Transparent EPR programs with built in controls and

74

balances, that allow objective and independent control, are more successful than

systems with low transparency. EPR programs with greater stakeholder

interaction and participation tend to be more successful because they can transfer

lessons learned into improving and refining the system.

75

CHAPTER-6

CONCLUSION

AND

FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

6.1 CONCLUSION

WEEE Management has emerged as the most critical issue of the twenty-

first century. The problem is exacerbated by the increasing rate of WEEE

production in the world, and relatively short life spans of recent electronic

equipments models. As society continues to consume more electric and

electronic products every year, the toxins hazards associated with it also

continue to increase. The potential risks to the developing countries to become

the junk yards of developed counties are particularly significant.

The management of WEEE within the global and national context is very

broad and sensitive. WEEE management has evolved as a major policy issue in

the developing world especially in Pakistan. The accommodation of

environmentally acceptable WEEE management system is a major challenge to

Pakistan‟s current waste management system, especially when it comes to

technical and organizational infrastructure.

Existing research in the domain points out that there is a persistent

problem of WEEE management and it has deleterious effect on the environment

of the country. The researchers in the waste management field are consistently in

search of solutions for WEEE management problem. Therefore, this study tries

to provide an improved solution through policy framework by applying the

activity theory as problem solving approach. The Activity modeling has two

facets i.e. problem modeling and solution modeling. The problem modeling of

Pakistan is mapped to highlight the current situation of Pakistan. Based upon the

problem modeling the solution model was framed to give the possible solution

through strategic initiatives and the recommendations; that covers the roles and

responsibilities of different stakeholders.

The key issues that need immediate contemplation are: technical and

policy-level interventions, implementation and capacity building and improved

public awareness. The most urgent necessity is to raise the awareness among all

actors and to create a dedicated policy and legislative mechanism by engaging

76

relevant stakeholders (government, industrialist and consumers). Civil society

involvement in policy mechanisms is a crucial step in the formation of WEEE

management.

The WEEE management in Pakistan requires implementation of WEEE

Policy, via inventory system; that deals with control of imported WEEE goods,

tracking system at sea ports, and development of inland baseline data for WEEE

management. The effectiveness of an environmental planning and management

greatly depends on the accuracy of the WEEE waste statistics which will serve

as the gauge on the amount of WEEE that is going to torrent in Pakistan. Other

measures needed to control the WEEE movement are building infrastructure,

training and awareness program for the public and WEEE dealers, run pilot

projects for recycling WEEE goods and development of public-private

partnership ventures to ensure proper WEEE management. The scheme of EPR

approach is applied in view of the Pakistan specific prospective. As the global

hazardous waste always flows to the destinations with weaker environmental

standards and regulations; the policy framework gives firm footing for

sustainable development and create environmental consciousness among the

people.

6.2 FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTION

Future research has to ascertain about and explore following questions

which give further knowledge and understanding of the topic of this thesis are

discussed as under.

What Mitigation measures are needed by the developing countries to

protect environmental harm from WEEE processing?

What policy interventions are needed by the developed world to save

guard the environment?

What are the steps taken by the industrializing world to improve the

economic and social development?

What are the environmental effects caused by Electronic Wastes, and

recommend measures to be taken to mitigate or offset the negative

effects?

77

The technical issues that are needed for the management of WEEE are

smart designing of Equipments, Eco labeling and green supply chain. Beside

conventional technique modern technique may also be applied for the WEEE

management.

Mapping of hot spot of WEEE dumping in the world applying GIS

technique or photogrammetric technique.

Estimation of inland WEEE generate in Pakistan annually? And the

estimated composing kinds and types in WEEE occur in Pakistan?

The further research may be done in the business and economic domain

also and different processing business model may be developed. Therefore, a

subsequent research needs to collect detailed market information may also be

needed in the most potential cities.

What are the most effective business strategies to protect the

environment in the country?

Incentives based role of foreign companies to capitalize in environmental

protection industry?

Identify the specify factors of proposed different business model.

Each category of WEEE must be analysis separately such as the cell

phones waste which is the emerging category of electronic waste that needs to be

studied to determine its contribution to the environmental damage.

78

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Annexure -1

Toxic Substances in WEEE Material and its Health and Environmental Effects

Toxic

substances

Potential damages

for Human health

Potential damages for

the Environment

Brominated

flame

retardants

Carcinogenic and

neurotoxic, they may

also have negative

effects on reproduction

Soluble in landfill

leachates, volatile to a

certain extent, bio-

accumulative and persistent.

Their incineration may lead

to the generation of dioxins

and furans

Cadmium

(Ca)

Can have irreversible

effects on the kidneys,

provoke cancers or

induce skeletal

demineralization.

Bio-accumulative,

persistent and toxic for the

environment.

Chromium

VI

Can cause allergic

reactions, is caustic when

in contact with the skin,

and geno-toxic as well.

Easily absorbed into cells,

with toxic effects

Lead (Pb)

Can damage the nervous

systems, the endocrine

and cardiovascular

systems, the kidneys

Accumulating in the

environment, it has high

toxic effects on plants,

animals and micro-

organisms.

Nickel (Ni)

Can affect the endocrine

and immune systems, the

skin, and the eyes

Mercury

(Hg)

Can cause damage to the

brain and has cumulative

impacts

Spread in the water, is

accumulated by living

organisms

Source: EIA 2000, EEB 2001, EPA 2000, OECD 2001

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Annexure-2 GLOSSARY

TERM

MEANING

Cannibalization Involves the selective retrieval of components and

modules (others are scrapped) mainly for spares

applications;

Electrical and

Electronic

Equipment (EEE)

Producer

Equipment which is dependent on electric currents or

electromagnetic fields in order to work properly and

equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement

of such currents and fields falling under the categories

set out in Annex IA and designed for use with a voltage

rating not exceeding 1000 Volt for alternating current

and 1500 Volt for direct current. (art. 3, a) WEEE

Directive)

Energy recovery

Use of combustible waste as a means of generating

energy through direct incineration with or without other

waste, but with recovery of the heat. (art. 3, e) WEEE

Directive)

Historical waste

WEEE from products put onto the market before the

13th August 2005.

Orphans

WEEE whose producer is not capable of being

identified or does not exist anymore when waste

management costs occur.

Prevention

Measures aimed at reducing the quantity and the

harmfulness to the environment of WEEE and materials

and substances contained therein. (art. 3, c) WEEE

Directive)

Producer

Anyone who :

- Manufactures and sells EEE under his own brand

- Resells EEE produced by other suppliers

- Imports or exports EEE on a professional basis into a

Member State.

(following art. 3, I) WEEE Directive)

Producer

responsibility

Application of the polluter-pays principle, aiming at

integrating the environmental externalities within the

price of products: the WEEE Directive entails an

individual producer responsibility, requiring that

producers bear the costs for the collection (from

collection points), treatment, recycling and

environmentally sound disposal of the products of their

own brand. A collective producer responsibility would

allow sharing the treatment and recycling costs

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following the market shares of producers.

Reconditioning Process of returning a used product to a satisfactory

working condition.

Recovery

Any of the applicable operations provided for in Annex

IIB to Council Directive of 15 July 1975 on Waste

(75/442/EEC)ii. (art. 3, f ) WEEE Directive)

Recycling

Reprocessing in a production process of the waste

materials for the original purpose or for other purposes,

but excluding energy recovery. (art. 3, e) WEEE

Directive)

Remanufacturing produces as good as new products partly from old

components and materials

Repair Fixing of specified faults in a product.

Re-use

Any operation by which WEEE or components thereof

are used for the same purpose for which they were

conceived, including the continued use of the equipment

or components thereof which are returned to collection

points, distributors, recyclers or manufacturers. (art. 3,

d) WEEE Directive)

Treatment

Any activity after the WEEE has been handed over to a

facility for depollution, disassembly, shredding,

recovery or preparation for disposal and any other

operation carried out for the recovery and/or the

disposal of the WEEE. (art. 3, h) WEEE Directive)

Waste

Any substance or object in the categories set out in

Annex I of Council Directive of 15 July 1975 on waste

(75/442/EEC), which the holder discards or intends or is

required to discard.

Waste Electrical

and Electronic

Equipment

(WEEE)

Electrical or electronic equipment which is waste within

the meaning of Article 1(a) of Directive

75/442/EEC, including all components,

Subassemblies and consumables which are part of the

product at the time of discarding. (art. 3, b) WEEE

Directive) Screens, keyboards, capacitors, tubes, printed

circuits boards are components. Subassemblies are for

example shelves of a refrigerator, without which the

equipment of origin could not function as foreseen by

the manufacturer. The consumables are pieces of the

equipment that must be replaced in the short-term, like

ink cartridges or batteries. Source: Explanatory Memorandum WEEE and ROHS Directives, COM (2000) 347 Final,

Brussels, 13 June 2000, p.32.

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Annexure-3

WEEE and estimated life cycle of the Product

Products Mass in (kg) Estimated life

(years)

Personal Computer (PC) 35 3

Iron 2 10

Microwave 15 7

Refrigerator (small) 55 10

Telephone 1 5

Toaster 1 5

Tumble Dryer 35 10

Vacuum cleaner 10 10

Washing machine 65 8

Freezer 65 10

Food mixer 4 5

Dish washer 50 10

Air-conditioner 55 12

Video recorder/DVD Player 5 5

Television (TV) 30 5

Photocopier 60 8

Cell phone 0.25 2

Fax machine 5 3

Source: Gaidajis et al., 2010