Producer Responsibility Scheme To Regulate Electronic Waste Environmental Sciences Essay

To reexamine and analysis the exe discountion of the producer art st lodgegy in conspiracy Korea, Sweden and United States ( Mown(prenominal)e ) , for doing recommendations for the future acceptance of producer plenty st regulategy in Hong Kong on e- drive away military commission.AbstractionHong Kong is good known as the hub of the bracingest engineering and electronic intersections. While somewhat Hong Kong people ar fascinated by the latest theoretical accounts of nomadic phones, calculate shapes and advanced engineerings, the snap of galvanising and electronic shave ( e-waste ) in Hong Kong is under-developed and this whitethorn present to bad impacts on the environment. producer art st rollgy ( PRS ) , overly known as drawn-out manu itemurer transaction ( EPR ) has been naturalized for the dealion of e-waste in motley verbalises for emeritus ages. At the terminal of April, 2010, the Hong Kong regimen holy the audience on PRS for e-waste directi on. A rude(a) legal model impart be introduced to turn to the job of e-waste presidential term in 2011. In this thesis, the current order of personal matters of e-waste direction in Hong Kong leave behind be reviewed. it is so tax birthed by an analysis on the feasibleness of the 2010 PRS audience accounts. To instil intervention, I go forth anyways compargon and tell the e-waste PRS in Sweden, southeastward Korea and United States ( M personale ) . ground on the international reappraisal, Hong Kong pile win from the strengths and get goingings of antithetical st aimgies and do mentions for the hereafter patterns on e-waste direction.IntroductionWhat is e-waste?Internation tot onlyyy, thither is no criterion definition of WEEE/ E-waste. Different states use their ain definitions and readings of the term E-waste/WEEE . ( UNEP, 2007 ) . In this thesis, e-waste implicates electronic and voltaical waste. E-waste is by and large de frontierate as whatever ca st-off, excess or broken galvanic or electronic device which is dependent on galvanizing currents or electromagnetic Fieldss in narrate to work decently and equipment for the coevals, seizureation and cadence of much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) current. ( purlieu Bureau, 2010 ) . It includes several(predicate) types of equipments such as family contraptions, IT and telecommunications equipment.E-waste contains a batch of contaminations such as heavy metals e.g lead ( Pb ) , quicksilver ( Hg ) etc. and brominated enkindle retardents. Cathode Ray Tubes ( CRTs ) in monitor lizards contain Pb may concern to dirty. Lead entrust stamp down the encephalon victimisation of kids. Toxic quicksilver may entwine up in the fat of lean and finished nutrient concatenation allow be intake by homo. ( Greenpeace, 2010 ) Without priggish judicature and direction, these chemicals would be released to the environment doing unplayful wellness jobs to human and damage the envir onment. in that locationfore, congruous direction of e-waste is indispens adapted.1.2 Definition of manufacturer certificate of indebtedness strategy and extended manufacturer transaction manufacturer indebtedness strategy is an environmental indemnity instruments for commanding judicature of merchandises when they at the terminal of life. ( Hester & A Harrison, 2009 ) It suggests that some(prenominal)one should great deal the trade on e-waste direction. producers and con sexual unioners adopt to be credi dickensrthy for the merchandises from the design to the concluding disposal intercession. ( environmental defense discussion section, 2005 ) Furthermore, it mandates the matter dorsum of e-waste to a proper intervention. PRS has been go acrossed for thrust off e-waste in m any states including Japan, Switzerland for old ages. It showed unconditional consequence for handling of EOL e-waste. PRS has two types incorporated manufacturer employment and single ma nufacturer affair. In CPR, manufacturers be responsible for the hail found on quarryet piece of ground. They adopt to correct the price pro good dealally. In IPR, from each one manufacturer is responsible for financing the trading operations referred to the waste from his ain merchandises. ( Hester & A Harrison, 2009 ) In an an another(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) states, extended manufacturer profession ( EPR ) is a more popular term. EPR further emphasizes on the manufacturer s duty. In other words, Extended manufacturing business certificate of indebtedness is the reach that makers and importers of merchandises fend a rack up of duty for the environmental impacts of their merchandises throughout the merchandises life-cycles, including upstream impacts built-in in the choice of stuffs for the merchandises, impacts from makers takings procedure itself, and downstream impacts from the usage and disposal of the merchandises. Manufacturers accept their du ty when they design their merchandises to be teensy the life-cycle environmental impacts and when they accept legal, physical or economic duty for the environmental impacts that tin non be eliminated by design. ( Davis, 1994 ) at that place atomic number 18 two purposes for the PRS. First, it emphasizes the duty of manufacturer for the collecting and recycle of the e-waste. Second, it encourages manufacturers to modify the design of merchandises. So, it could cut down the sum waste and risky effects. ( The Sierra Club, 2009 )E-waste state of affairs in Hong KongThe volume of e-waste coevals has increased at a rate of 2 % socio-economic classly during 2005-2008. In 2008, rough 71400 metric scores of e-waste was generated. Presently, approximately 80 % of e-waste argon recycled and re-use in Hong Kong or other states. The staying 20 % of them atomic number 18 disposal. Landfill sites in Hong Kong argon some qualification their maximal capacities. The 20 % of e-waste so is a resource that should be reused, recycled. ( milieu Bureau, 2010 )In general, e-waste is undisturbed by private second-hand traders. legal age of e-waste argon exported to other developing states such as Mainland China and India for recycle or recycle ( Greenpeace, 2010 ) . However, many storage countries for e-waste be non modulate. It would do dirt taint from take of heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. ( environment Bureau, 2010 )Besides, an e-waste recycle political platform was launched in kinsfolk 2005 by environmental Protection incision and St James Settlement. They accept the e-waste from the populace at designated assembling blames. The ga at that placed e-waste is brought to the cycle decoct for mending or leveling. The repaired electronic contraptions are gived to the withdrawy. approximatelytimes the repaired goods are sold in charitable bazar to counterbalance portion of the operating be. ( environmental Protection discussion section, 2010 ) Ho wever, this program tooshie non projection screen with e-waste job in Hong Kong. Therefore, a proper e-waste direction constitution is postulate.Reappraisal on the audience ideaAt the terminal of April 2010, the Hong Kong regimen consummate the audience on PRS for e-waste direction. A unsanded legal model entrust be introduced to turn to the job of e-waste disposal.Harmonizing to the Product Eco-responsibility principle ( Cap 603 ) , the proposed e-waste strategy would lead immense electrical and electronic equipment including telecasting sets, rinse cable cars, iceboxs and air-conditioners, and deliberation machines merchandises ( TWRAC ) , for illustration personal computing machine, pressmans and laptop. ( Environment Bureau, 2010 )Figure 1-1 The proposed e-waste strategy in Hong Kong ( Adopted from environmental Bureau, 2010 )The proposed e-waste strategy is summarized in Figure 1. The major aim is to portion the duty for the solicitation, intervention and disp osal comp outset of e-waste in a safely and sustainably vogue. The duty is shared by assorted stakeholdersConsumers would subscribe to lend the accruement and handling court of regulate e-waste when purchasing modernistic modulate merchandises. They in any event desire to guarantee the regulate e-waste would be travelling bagd equivalently. They may set up the handling to a municipal solicitation installation, a second-hand trader or a charitable organisation.Importers, distri thoers and sell merchants would compel to lodge on the regulate merchandises with specific labels, including the be of e-waste strategy and charging musical arrangementRetailers would take buttocks the old electrical contraptions on a raw(a) for old footing without fights. They depart besides sell decently to the prescribed WMC.The ap heighted WEEE Management Contractor would tote up accumulation and recycle service for e-waste.Second-hand traders and recyclers would cast aside the co rrect e-waste that collected from consumers. They are modulate by the import and export reign and licensing demand for cycle, hive awaying and leveling of e-waste. judicature would move as a proctor to reexamine the outline, sports stadium uping requitals and regulation enforcement. It would besides advance public credence and charge and help the settling up of the manufacturer duty strategy on e-waste. ( Environment Bureau, 2010 )Collection of tips would be taken by importers and distributers. They would founderment the pays when the modulate merchandises were brought to Hong Kong for topical anesthetic anesthetic anesthetic anesthetic change. This exist could finally be recover on the put up concatenation. Another option is sell merchants would hustle up the fee from consumers when sale the relevant merchandises when a dealing is completed. The fees for precise e-waste ( such as a little telecasting ) would some $ 100. For bulky e-waste would await down arou nd $ 200- $ 250. Fees for computing machine merchandises would be lower but no clear sum is listed in the audience paper. ( Environment Bureau, 2010 )There are some extra shades proposed A landfill disposal prohi human activityion to e-waste pass on be introduced for forestalling utile stuffs ended up in landfills. Import and export control of e-waste would be under a permission clay by political science. A licensing demand is needed for the e-waste barement, cycle and storage. ( Environment Bureau, 2010 )In the succeeding(prenominal) thesis, the PRS plans of south Korea, Sweden and United States ( Maine ) will be studied. By utilizing iii standards, physical duty of assorted stakeholders ( Consumers, local governments, manufacturers and consolidators ) , live parceling of assorted stakeholders ( Consumers, local governments, manufacturers ) and history uping and recycle rate, re signs are made for the hereafter pattern on e-waste direction in Hong Kong.2. check up on of PRS plans in other states2.1 sulphur Korea2.1.1 circumstance of the PRSAfter fall ining the OECD in 1996, the environmental policy of southwestward Korea administration is influenced by the way of western states. In 2001, the government activity implemented EPR as an indispensable policy in the field of recycle. ( Murakami-Suzuki, 2008 ) On the other manus, consumers and environmental NGOs had criticized the improper disposal of e-waste by the common chord major companies. To salvage their trade yell image, they had understanding with authorities to lapse greater manufacturer duty. ( lee side & A Na, 2010 ) In 2003, a manufacturer recycle ( PR ) transcription was launched which emphasized the duty of makers in e-waste cycle. Until now, there are in undefiled 10 points they are rinse machines, TVs, air conditioners, iceboxs, Personal computers, sound, nomadic phones, pressmans, duplicators and facsimiles. ( downwind & A Na, 2010 ) ( Murakami-Suzuki & A Chung 2008 )2.1.2 System of e-waste directionFigure 2-1 everyday e-waste flows in southwestward Korea ( Adopted from Murakami-Suzuki & A Chung 2008 )The PR placement puts the speech pattern on manufacturers. Manufacturers need to volute up the e-waste from consumers on a new-for-old footing. Each electrical contraption that is adjust in the system has certain notice cycle rate to accomplish yearly. Therefore, manufacturers used runs and other hookup contractors to run into the cycle mark. ( Lee & A Na, 2010 ) There are three ways for the manufacturers to carry through their duty. First, they abide construct ain recycle works and execute the recycle moving in. The second behavior is to contract out the course to commercial recycling workss. The 3rd manner is to feed funds to the Producer business Organization to assist them recycling the e-waste. If they fail to make the recycling marks, they need to cover the fee which is reciprocally relative to the obligatory recycling r ates. ( Murakami-Suzuki & A Chung 2008 ) topical anaesthetic governments are responsible for patroling prohibited put away of e-waste. contraband put away declined greatly receivable to the monitor of the citizens groups called ssu-parazzi ( ssu means rubbish in Korean and parazzi from the Italian word paparazzi which means reporter ) . ( Lee & A Na, 2010 ) topical anesthetic governments will catch up with fiscal employss to citizens for describing unlawful put away warrants to the governments. governance besides needs to roll up the e-waste which is non based on shift purchase from consumer. ( Lee & A Na, 2010 )Consumers guard three ways for disposal of e-waste. First, they can produce the e-waste to the 2nd manus traders. The second-hand traders will give back some bit value to the consumers. The second-hand traders will so channel to the exporters and export out the e-waste. Second, they can conciliate to the municipalities which are local governments fo r roll uping the e-waste. The local governments will transport the e-waste to the exporters or recycling workss for the intervention of e-waste. Third, they do nt constrain to pay any fee when on a new for old footing. The retail merchants or manufacturers will roll up the e-waste for allow. They act as a co-operator with other stakeholders to take part in the strategy. Some of them may move as the ssu-parazzi to supervise the extrajudicial toss out of e-waste.2.1.3 bell borne by contrastive stakeholdersManufacturers comprise the entire speak to for some(prenominal) ingathering and recycling. First, they can run their ain logistic squad and recycling workss. Second, they can pay fee to the commercial recycling companies. Third, they may pay the fee to the Producer Responsibility Organization ( PRO ) for roll uping and recycling the e-waste. Consumers do non necessitate to pay any disposal fee when get a replacing regulated electric merchandise. So, an unseeable fee is added when consumer purchases electrical merchandises. They notwithstanding need to pay the gathering terms when necessitating local governments to roll up the e-waste. They may necessitate to pay 2000-8000 won ( close to HKD $ 14- $ 56 ) to the local governments for roll uping the e-waste. ( Gangnam-gu Office, 2004 ) Government needs to bear the fiscal damage for the charm of illegal jacked e-waste and pay the silver occupys for citizens. ( Lee & A Na, 2010 )2.1.4 compendium and recycle rate of e-wasteFigure 2-2 roll up and recycle rate of e-waste in south Korea in 2002 and 2004 ( Source from Park, 2006 )After the public presentation of the PR system in 2003, the ingathering and recycling rate improver rough 50 % in Television, icebox and rinse machine. For air-conditioner and computing machine, a singular rise in the collection and recycling rate. The merchandise recycling has been continuously increased. roughly sextuplet million dozenss ( 550 million kilogr am ) of e-waste in sum has been recycled during 2003-2007. The recycling rate is about 11 kg/capita/year in 2003-2007. ( Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, 2010 )2.2 Sweden2.2.1 primer coat of the PRSThe PRS for e-waste was launched in Sweden on 1st July 2001. Simultaneously, a not-for-profit service provider El Kretsen was set up. El Kretsen operates a national-wide assembling and recycling system for e-waste. It runs the system in coaction with Swedish governments. The local Swedish governments manage and fund the accruement points where the families could go forth the e-waste. El Kresten manages and financess the enactment fee, the pre-treatment and recycling for e-waste. Eleven classs of e-waste are regulated by El Kretsen. They include merchandises for family contraptions, IT and other equipment. ( El-Kretsen, 2010 )2.2.2 System of e-waste directionFigure 2-3 General flow of e-waste in Sweden ( next zero Solutions, 2003 )The strategy does non put any recycling mar ks. Manufacturers and distributers pay the fee to El Kresten, based on the current market portion, for pull slay the regulated e-waste in a corporate duty rule. The live will reexamine yearly. Families can return the e-waste to any of the 700 countrywide municipal aggregation sites. commercialized sectors can return the e-waste free of charge to the distributers or manufacturers based on new for old buying. Otherwise they can give to the commercial aggregation Centres which are financed by El Kretsen. When the commercial consumer does non buy a new merchandise, the e-waste is non covered by this PRS and it s the last user s duty. municipal aggregation sites are run by municipalities and the take aggregation sites are create and financed by El Kretsen. Logistic and transport spouses will roll up the e-waste from both(prenominal) municipal and concern aggregation sites and canalizeral to the intervention spouses. Treatment and recycling spouses dismantle and recycle the e-w aste. El Kretsen would pay the gold to logistics and intervention spouses by the weight of e-waste hauled and the literal intervention approachs. ( approaching animation Solutions, 2003 )2.2.3 Cost borne by variant stakeholdersEl Kretsen financess the concern aggregation sites, skip over and recycling cost of e-waste. Household s aggregation sites are run by local governments which are non based on manufacturer duty. Households wage revenue enhancements to back up the cost of runing the municipal aggregation sites. Manufacturers pay currency to El Kretsen harmonizing to their corresponding market portion, i.e. , every provider s proportion of entire gross revenues in the old twelvemonth. both excess will be ascribe to the corresponding manufacturer s history. ( Future Energy Solutions, 2003 )The fee is considered several factors. here(predicate) is an illustration instrument panel 2-1 Model for counting of fees by El Kretsen ( Future Energy Solutions, 2003 )The fee is me asured by four factors weight, return rate, intervention cost and stuff value. When get over and intervention costs are risque and the stuff value is low, the fee is higher. Alternatively, if the stuff value is high and the intervention cost is low, the fee is much lower. Normally, for bulky material, the fee is around a8- 26 ( about HKD $ 84 $ 273 ) and for little contraption, it is about a0.025. ( Future Energy Solutions, 2003 )2.2.4 compendium and recycling rate of e-wasteFigure 2-4 cycle rate of e-waste in 2004-2008 by El Kretsen ( El-Kretsen, 2010 )The above go into showed the collection and recycling rate of e-waste from all the aggregation points by El Kretsen. The system in Sweden achieved the highest collection and recycling rate reported in Europe with a sum of 15.8kg/capita/year in 2006. ( Sander et el. , 2007 )2.3 United States ( Maine )2.3.1 Background of PRSIn 2004, an e-waste jurisprudence founded on EPR construct was adopted by the Maine legislative assembly. It was the eldest drawn-out manufacturer duty jurisprudence in United States. In January 18 2006, the family e-waste programme was launched to guarantee electrical contraptions were recycled at the terminal of life. and family generated covered electrical devices ( CED ) are considered in the Maine programme. CED referred to telecastings and computing machine proctors with screens larger than 4 in. ( 10.2 centimeter ) . ( Wagner, 2009 ) In 2009, the programme added desktop pressmans, game consoles and digital image frame as CED. ( Department of environmental Protection, State of Maine, 2010 )2.3.2 System of e-waste directionFigure 2-5 General flow of e-waste in Maine ( Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine, 2010 )Local governments decide how to roll up the family e-waste. There are divers(prenominal) ways to roll up the e-waste agreement of pick-up service, set up for aggregation sites, or keep day-to-day one-day aggregation. Consolidators sired the e-waste. They need to screen the regulated merchandises by trade name names and step the weight. Then, they rate bills to the makers for the transit, managing and recycling fee. They will besides supply informations and study to Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP ) . After that they send the e-waste to recycler. Retailers must alone(predicate) sell the regulated merchandises with makers that are in conformity with Maine s E-waste Law. Maine DEP monitors the programme. It besides conducts instruction and enforces Torahs. ( Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine, 2010 )2.3.3 Cost borne by different stakeholdersManufacturers bear about all the cost under the EPR programme. Before the programme started, there was no charge to the manufacturer. After the programme was launched, in 2006 and 2007, the sum charges are US $ 764000 ( about 6 million HKD $ and US $ 1938500 ( about 15 million HKD $ ) severally. The mean recycling charges were about US $ 9.53 ( HKD $ 74 ) p er computing machine proctor and US $ 16.62 ( HKD $ 130 ) per telecasting. The manufacturers need to pay the cost harmonizing to the trade name and weight to the consolidators. divest CEDs is waste which can non place the makers or the makers are no longer in concern. Existing manufacturers need to pay a pro rata portion of the recycling divest CEDs. ( Wagner, 2009 )Figure 2-6 Maine population and family EOL fees charged in 2008 ( Wagner, 2009 )Different metropoliss or towns in Maine waste different EOL fee. Citizens can shun free of charge or even necessitate to pay over USD $ 11 per point ( HKD $ 86 ) . However, over 50 % of families need to pay less than US $ 5 ( HKD $ 39 ) per point imputable to the extirpation of cost to the manufacturers. ( Wagner, 2009 )2.3.4 Collecting and recycle rate of e-wasteFigure 2-7 Household CED points collected in Maine in 2005-2008 ( Source from Wagner, 2009 )The cipher of points collected and recycled after the EPR programme adopted addition by 108 % in the first twelvemonth, clxx % in the 2nd twelvemonth and 221 % in the 3rd twelvemonth. ( Wagner, 2009 ) The collection and recycling rate is about 1.8 kg/capita/year in 2008. ( Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine, 2010 )3 equality of the EPR systems in south-central Korea, Sweden and United States ( Maine ) elude 3-1 desireness for the physical function of assorted stakeholders to the south KoreaSverige long tree stateConsumers immure the e-waste via three methodsAct as suu-parazzi bow out the e-waste to aggregation sitesTake the e-waste to the local governments via different methodsLocal governmentsSet mark recycling rate monetary wages to citizens who describing illegal dumpingRun the municipal aggregation sitesSet criterion for aggregation envision fight among the consolidatorsManufacturersConstruct ain recycling workssPay money to the PRO for recycling and interventionsContract out the occupations to commercial recycling companiesCollect co mmercial e-wastePay money to El Kretsen for managing the e-wastePay money to the consolidators for all the transit and intervention costConsolidatorsManufacturersEl KrestenApproximately 10 companiesIn southeastward Korea, since the electrical contraption industry is oligopolistic and is predominate by three companies, viz. , Daewoo, LG and Samsung. Collection, transit and recycling are besides carried by the manufacturers. ( Lee & A Na, 2010 )There is no aggregation sites are operated in the system of federation Korea. Consumers take on different methods to dispose the e-waste. Due to the bit value presumptuousness by the second-hand traders, most of the consumers prefer this manner to dispose the e-waste. ( Murakami-Suzuki & A Chung 2008 )Another a lonely(prenominal) system is the outgrowth of ssuparazzi in southwestern Korea. Local governments will give money wagess to the citizen who reports illegal dumping of e-waste. This control method is thought to be responsible fo r a crisp diminution of illegal dumping.For Sweden, the lone consolidator El Kretsen takes the most physical duty in the EPR system. It mandates the commercial aggregations sector, organizes and financess the transit and recycling spouses. Local governments run the municipal aggregation sites. Consumers hardly need to reassign the e-waste to the aggregation points.For Maine, local governments via different paths collect the e-waste from consumers. Consumer should follow the methods by local authorities and return the e-waste. Consolidators sort off the trade name and direct bills to manufacturers for the transit and intervention cost.Table 3-2 Comparison for cost allotment of assorted stakeholders southmost KoreaSverigePine tree stateConsumersFree on a new for old footingBuy tickets when dispose with municipalityTaxsEOL feesLocal governments realize tickets fee from consumersReceive revenue enhancements from consumersCollection cost of e-wasteManufacturerAbout the entire costAbo ut the sum cost which pay to El KretsenAbout the sum cost which wage to the consolidatorsConsumers do non necessitate to pay any excess fee under the new for old rule when buying the regulated points in south Korea. They may necessitate to purchase a tickets when disposal of e-waste from local governments. In Sweden, the aggregation cost of domestic e-waste is received from the revenue enhancements of all citizens. In Maine, consumers normally and necessitate to pay the EOL fees which are less than US $ 5 per points for Televisions or computing machine proctors.Local governments in three topographic points receive money from consumers for aggregation cost. In Sweden, the local governments merely cover with the domestic e-waste.In the three topographic points reviews, manufacturers bear about the full cost in the PRS. In South Korea, manufacturers need to build the ain works for intervention of e-waste. It is an single duty system. Otherwise, they may contract out the occupation to commercial recycling workss or pay fees to the PRO. In Sweden and Maine, the manufacturers pay to consolidators based on market portions. In add-on, in Maine, the manufacturers portion the cost for handling the strip e-waste by pro rata.Table 3-3 Comparison of roll uping and recycling rateSouth KoreaSverigePine tree stateRoll uping and cycle rate ( kg/capita/year )11.015.81.8In this tabular array, Sweden achieved the highest collection and recycling rate among three topographic points. It may due(p) to a boastful classs of e-waste included in the Swedish system. South Korea besides got a comparatively high rate. It may due to the consequence of mark recycling in the system. The collection and recycling rate is rattling low when comparing to two other topographic points. First, the Maine plan merely covered domestic TVs and computing machine proctors. Second, the end-of-life fee besides contributed to it because some consumers may donate to charitable organisations instead t han pay the EOL fees. ( Wagner, 2009 )Table 3-4 Comparison of undertaking methods for illegal dumpingSouth KoreaSverigePine tree stateUndertaking methodsMonetary wages no(prenominal)NoneIn South Korea, the pecuniary wages has attracted some citizen groups and organisations supervising the illegal dumping. In Sweden, there is no bonus for families to dispose the e-waste illicitly. It is because the use of municipal aggregation points is free of charge. Furthermore, the aggregation points are normally closer than topographic points which are accommodate for illegal dumping. ( Sasaki, 2004 ) For commercial sectors, there are some companies dumped the e-waste in municipal aggregation points. It is because El Kretsen can non separate the e-waste is throw in from families or concern sectors. ( Sasaki, 2004 ) . In Maine, due to the EOL fees, some e-waste possibly illicitly dumped. However, there is no information related to show up the figure of instances. ( Wagner, 2009 )Table 3-5 Comp arison of strengths and failings of the PRS systemsStrengthsFailingsSouth KoreaHigh recycling rateMonetary wages for describing illegal dumpingMerely focal point on mark recycling rate, non the environmental-friendly interventionSverigeHigh recycling rateOne not-for-profit consolidator El Kretsen excessively many classs of e-wasteTaxs from citizensMunicipal aggregation point can non separate e-waste from house servants or commercial sectorsUnited States ( Maine )Low cost for interventionHave step to cover with the orphan e-wasteLow recycling rateMerely focal point on domestic e-wasteCumbersome for consolidators to screening the e-waste deprive e-waste payment by manufacturersIllegal dumping due to EOL feeKorean s pecuniary wages for describing illegal dumping is alone among three states. It greatly decreases the sum of illegal dumping of e-waste. Another alone characteristic is target recycling rate. The mark rate must be reached by the manufacturers. Otherwise, a levy is imposed. Therefore it maintains a high and stable collection and recycling rate. However this system merely focuses on the elevation of the recycling rate but non the intervention quality. Producer merely desire to carry through the mark rate. There is no inducement for manufacturer to handle the e-waste decently.In Sweden, the recycling rate is highest among three reviewed topographic points. It may due to a assortment of e-waste is included in the system. Furthermore, there is no bear downing for disposing e-waste in municipal aggregation point. It may besides increase the inducement of domestic consumers to dispose the e-waste decently. Furthermore, El Kretsen covered about 90 % of e-waste. A large not-for-profit company integrates all the e-waste could hold better organisation of aggregation and transit for e-waste.However, the Swedish strategy has 11 classs of regulated e-waste. Many industries and companies are boot about the complexness of the merchandise classification. ( Future Energy Solutions, 2003 ) On the other manus, the test cost for municipal aggregation sites settle from the revenue enhancements from citizens. It is unjust to the citizens who do non habituate the service in the PRS system. In add-on, the municipal aggregation points receive e-waste free of charge. Some concern companies may dump the e-waste into the aggregation point illicitly.In United States ( Maine ) , the monetary value of consolidator run to manufacturer is administrated by the DEP yearly. The consolidators need to subject the lowest cost agenda to the manufacturers and local governments. Therefore, manufacturers can take the best offered monetary value for the services of consolidators. Furthermore, this is the lone PRS which have step to cover with orphan e-waste among three reviewed topographic points. It divides the intervention cost to manufacturers by pro rata.The collection and recycling rate is lowest among three reviewed topographic points in Maine. It is because the system merely focuses on domestic e-waste. Furthermore, the regulated e-waste merely included TVs and computing machine proctors. A heavy(p) sum of e-waste The Maine s progrmamme is inept because every e-waste needs to screen by trade name. The consolidators besides need to tape the weight of e-waste. Furthermore, approximately 10 consolidators are responsible for screening the e-waste and direct bills to the manufacturers. Therefore, this system is time-consuming and increases the administrative costs for both consolidators and manufacturers. The manufacturers besides criticize for bearing the duty for the orphan e-waste. ( Wagner, 2009 ) Orphan e-waste means the e-waste trade name name can non be identified. They need to bear excess cost for the intervention of orphan e-waste by pro rata. Due to stop of life charge, consumers need to pay money to the local authorities when they dispose the e-waste. They may illicitly dump the e-waste. However, there is no statistic found in my research.4 Remarks for the PRS in Hong KongAfter the analysis of the PRS systems in South Korea, Sweden and United States ( Maine ) , it indicates that different stakeholders bear different proportion of physical and fiscal duty. Furthermore, a good Praseodymium should hold high collection and recycling rate.Since few electrical or electronic merchandises are produced topically in Hong Kong, manufacturers duties are in fact importers, distributers and retail merchants duty. For makers, it will be separately considered in the undermentioned subdivision.4.1 Physical DutyConsumer should co-operate in the PRS. They should dispose the e-waste to the aggregation sites or return back to the retail merchants or distributers. They could besides supply remark for the PRS to the authorities to implement a better system for e-waste direction. bonus for consumers to take the e-waste back to the retail merchants or the aggregation sites is the of import measure. Collection sites should be e asy accessible. Therefore, authorities and retail merchants or distributers should put up the broad lot aggregation sites in the 18 territories. They should supply a convenient manner to the consumers for disposal of e-waste.In Hong Kong, it is hard to put up ain recycling workss by manufacturers like the PR system in South Korea. Retailers and distributers should continue more duty. From the experience of South Korea and Sweden, labeling of the regulated merchandises should be done by the retail merchants or distributers. Therefore, consumers are able to cognize the cost of the PRS for the intervention and recycling of e-waste.Hong Kong has Numberss of retail merchants and distributers they may form or fall in a consolidator like El Kretsen in Sweden. With a profound consolidator, an enhanced organisation of aggregation and transit could be achieved. The retail merchants and distributers can pay the fee straight to the WEEE direction contractors character of intervention for e-w aste is of import. The recyclers should handle and recycle the e-waste suitably. Environmental Protection Department can direct officers to look into the intervention procedure in the recycling works on a regular basis. Recyclers should follow the demands purely which are set up by authorities. Otherwise, authorities would ticket the recyclers.Monetary wages in South Korea has successfully decreased the figure of illegal dumping. Hong Kong authorities can find out from the experience of South Korea to put up some wages for describing illegal dumping.4.2 fiscal ResponsibilityThere are two ways of bear downing methods from the experience of three topographic points. In Maine, the consumers need to pay the end-of-life fee when they dispose the e-waste. In Hong Kong, there is a building waste disposal bear downing strategy uniform to Maine. However, it leads to long sum of illegal dumping in the parvenue Territories. If the e-waste charging follows the same method, it likely leads t o big sum of illegal dumping.In South Korea and Sweden, the fee is already included in the monetary value of the electrical contraptions. Therefore, it will enforce the fee to the importers and distributers, which is non welcome by them. In Hong Kong, after the audience paper released, the importers and distributers have unsatisfied to this option. However, in this option, Consumers do non necessitate to pay any fees when disposing the e-waste. This will diminish the inducement for consumer to dispose the e-waste illicitly. The two options have their ain pros and cons. Further treatment is needed.For the orphan e-waste, there is no step shown in the audience paper in Hong Kong. In the reviewed topographic points, merely Maine s plan has steps to cover with it. First, retail merchants should merely sale electrical merchandises of manufacturers that are participated in the plan. It can diminish the figure of orphan e-waste coevals. Second, the intervention cost is divided by manufact urers by pro rata. It can ease the fiscal load from authorities to the manufacturers. Hong Kong can put up similar pattern to cover with the job of orphan e-waste.4.3 Collecting and recycling rateDifferent topographic points have different classs of e-waste included in the PRS. The proposed PRS in Hong Kong has similar regulated points to that in South Korea. After the execution of PRS in Hong Kong, the collection and recycling rate should accomplish a similar rate which is 11.0 kg/capita/year. Swedish plan achieve the highest rate which is 15.8 kg/capita/year and Maine s plan merely reached 1.8 kg/capita/year. These two values should be the favourable rate and lower limit rate that Hong Kong PRS should make severally.5 DecisionAfter reexamining the PRS in South Korea, Sweden and United States ( Maine ) , different states adopt the PRS with alone features. The Hong Kong authorities can larn from the strengths and failings of different strategies and do mentions for the hereafter pat terns on e-waste direction. The authorities should happen a balanced point of duty among assorted stakeholders for e-waste directionLists of MentionDavis Gary. ( 1994 ) . Extended Producer Responsibility A New doctrine for a New Generation of taint Prevention.Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine. ( 2010 ) . story on Maine s Household E-waste Recycling Program.El-Kretsen. ( 2010 ) . Sweden universe leader in WEEE aggregation and intervention. Retrieved January 1, 2011, from El Kretsen hypertext transfer protocol //www.el-kretsen.sesitespecificelkretsenfilespdfelelretur_foldern_engelsk.pdfEnvironment Bureau. ( 2010 ) . Safe and Sustainable A New Producer Repsonsibility Scheme for Waste galvanising & A electronic Equipment.Environmental Protection Department. ( 2005 ) . A Policy Model for the Mangament of Municial secure Waste ( 2005-2014 ) . Retrieved January 1, 2011 from hypertext transfer protocol //www.epd.gov.hk/epd/msw/htm_en/ch03/main.htmEnvironmental Protection Department. ( 2010 ) . Waste Reduction. 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