In today's digital age, technological advancements are at the forefront of innovation, yet managing electronic waste (e-waste) poses a significant challenge. In this session, we will discuss the topic of e-waste management and explore strategies for promoting sustainable practices in the digital transformation journey. We explore the current e-waste landscape, examining the volume of e-waste generated, its impact, and the challenges associated with its improper disposal and the environmental and health hazards it presents. We will showcase successful e-waste recycling and management initiatives from different regions, highlighting the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the implementation of sustainable practices. We will look into the EcoInternet Index Report by DotAsia and APNIC Foundation (https://www.ajitora.asia/eco-internet-index-2023/ ) and explore the ITU Extended Producer Responsibility - EPR (https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-L.1021-201804-I/en ) principle as an effective regulatory model for e-waste management. Some countries have introduced principles, such as the “right to repair”, ease of future recyclability, and use of refurbished devices or carbon-neutral packaging. We will also explore these principles as important factors to be considered by designers, developers, and companies at the early stage of the technology development chain. Effective e-waste management requires collaboration among various stakeholders. We will emphasise the importance of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and coordinated efforts among policymakers, industry leaders, civil society organizations, and end-users to establish sustainable e-waste management systems. We will have one onsite moderator directing the session and giving the floor to the speakers both onsite and online. The speakers will use presentations prepared in advance, and other interactive tools, which will help to keep the discussion focused and save time. During the Q&A moment with the audience, the onsite moderator will be attentive to the physical queue and will ask the online moderator in the case of hands raised or written comments, in which case the questions will be allowed starting with the online hands and written chats, and then following the physical queue, and so on. The online moderator has the main task of maintaining the order of the raised hands and written chat, reading the questions and giving the floor to online audience speakers. That way we will achieve an equal experience between the online and onsite audience.
Open Zoom
