Waste electrical and electronic equipment management in Ukraine

Abstract

The existing WEEE management in Ukraine is analysed. E-waste generation rates in Ukraine are estimated using electronics market analysis and statistics on waste generation in the industrial and commercial sectors. In Ukraine, main WEEE components include plastic (30%), copper (20%), and iron (8%). There are about 28 thousand tons of WEEE are generated annually in Ukraine (technological equipment – 60%, accumulators and batteries – 21%, household and office appliances – 13%, components of electrical equipment – 4%, fluorescent lamps – 2%.). These data are likely to be underestimated due to the lack of WEEE monitoring from households. Some e-waste containing hazardous compounds (batteries, fluorescent lamps, etc.) can be managed by 128 Ukrainian companies. These include 22 companies having a license to recycle this waste. Other WEEE are not covered. Two Ukrainian regions do not have any entity managing e-waste. Existing companies cannot efficiently manage the waste amount that is already accumulated and will grow. Therefore, Ukraine needs to adopt appropriate legislation, create special places for WEEE collection, conduce and control e-waste management operations, establish efficient monitoring system of WEEE flows.