E-waste recycling could create a $500 million annual business opportunity for Bangladesh if the country manages its electronic waste formally. Experts discussed this potential at a seminar titled The Formal E-Waste Management 2024, organized by the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Society Bangladesh. The event took place at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka, marking International E-Waste Day.
Akter Ul Alam, the general secretary of the WEEE Society Bangladesh, cited data from the European Union (EU), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the global WEEE Forum. He noted that Bangladesh produced 367 million kilograms of e-waste in 2022, growing at an annual rate of 3.4%. Despite this increase, only 0.5% of this waste underwent formal recycling.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Alam explained that the value of recyclable e-waste exceeds $1 per kilogram, as the extracted raw materials can be sold at that price. He pointed out that about 80-90% of the revenue from a formal recycling industry would go toward compliant collection and processing. “The environmental and public health costs of not recycling outweigh the processing costs,” he stressed.
Alam believes that supportive regulations, incentives, and investments could build a certified recycling industry. This industry could manage all e-waste in Bangladesh, potentially generating $40-50 million in profits every year.
In his keynote address, Dr. Md Shahinoor Islam, professor and head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), discussed global e-waste trends. He said the world produces 62 million tonnes of e-waste, with $57 billion worth of recoverable materials. He noted that 13.8 million tonnes of this waste undergo formal recycling, while 16 million tonnes are processed informally. In 2022, informal sectors managed 18 million tonnes, while 14 million tonnes ended up in landfills.
“Both disposal and informal recycling harm health and the environment due to heavy metals and hazardous chemicals,” he stated.
Currently, companies like JR Recycling, Azizu Recycling, and others engage in e-waste recycling in Bangladesh. Dr. Islam encouraged more firms to adopt these models to expand the industry.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser, referenced Interpol’s report that one in four vessels leaving the EU carries electronic waste destined for Asia or Africa. She called for international action and awareness. Hasan also urged electronics manufacturers to focus on durable products instead of promoting frequent purchases.
The government, she added, is committed to implementing the E-Waste Rules 2021 to address these issues.
Maj Gen (retired) Emdad Ul Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, highlighted that the telecom industry formally collects and recycles around 3,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. He emphasized the need for greater nationwide awareness on managing other types of e-waste properly.
Source: The Business Standard
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