Description: On the 12^th October, ITU will publish the Paper on ‘Internet Waste’ developed in collaboration with the WEEE Forum. The paper focuses on e-waste derived from ICT infrastructure equipment with examples from data centres, mobile networks and Internet of Things. The main objective is to raise awareness of the ICT infrastructure that supports connectivity and provoke thought into sustainable waste management practices.

On the 14^th October, ITU together with UN Environment will launch a campaign using the hashtag #endEwaste to to encourage TikTok young users to join the challenge and record themselves doing an e-waste treasure hunt at their own /family homes, or even workplaces. The idea is to promote a challenge where the person will be recorded searching for small electronic devices that are in her/his place and they are no longer being used or functioning. This person will also show what people are supposed to do with them afterwards:

• Reuse, donate or sell if the device is still working.


• Check if your electronic device manufacturer has a buy-back program (for an upgrade) or a take-back recycling program.


• If the device is not working, see if it can be repaired for reuse.


• If the device cannot be repaired, find a responsible local recycler or a drop-off point.

ITU invites individuals, businesses, NGOs and UN organizations to partner up on this challenge and help us spread the awareness on e-waste through TikTok.

On October 14^th as International E-waste Day falls on World Standards Day, ITU will publish an article to raise awareness on e-waste and reflect on the theme of “protect our planet with standards”. ITU will promote the release of the ‘Internet Waste’ thought paper and link to e-waste day as well.

On the 19^th October, ITU and the WEEE Forum will organized the ‘Internet Waste Dialogue’ webinar. The aim of the webinar is to discuss the opportunities and challenges of end-of-life management of infrastructure equipment that enables connectivity. We will have a discussion with different panel representatives from across the supply chain. The webinar will target stakeholders involved in the management of B2B infrastructure e-waste within industry, academia and international organisations.

Description: This year for IEWD, we will be publishing a thought paper with the WEEE Forum, GSMA and Sofies on the topic of Digital Solutions for a Circular Electronics Value Chain. This paper is the second thought paper that ITU and WEEE Forum have collaborated on for IEWD. To compliment the launch of the paper, we are also organizing a webinar around the topic of the paper.

IEWD will also mark the launch of the Generation Connect Global E-waste Iconathon competition that we are organizing with WEEE Forum and StEP. The E-waste Iconathon is an icon design contest that aims to raise awareness about the global e-waste issue and leverage the participation of youth globally. Young people of ages 18-24 are invited to participate and design a universal icon that signifies the importance of the take-back or collection of e-waste for recycling purposes. Registration opens on 14th of October 2021!

Description: Infographic: An interactive of a ‘regular’ household and office with bubbles explaining what can and cannot be recycled.

Video and blog: afterlife of e-waste - interview with Fairphone.

Video: ITU's e-waste activities

Video: local e-recycling organization that refurbishes old laptops to train people in digital skills

Video: 'ask the expert' with UNU. People submit questions they have about e-waste and we answer them!

Description: We will be publishing the annual thought paper with the WEEE Forum. The new thought paper is focused on complimentary, novel solutions and concepts to drive e-waste collection rates that are in line with existing regulatory principles.

From the Standards Bureau, we will be hosting 14th Symposium on ICTs, Environment, Climate Change and Circular Economy on the 25th of October.

 

Description: Dissemination on this day of content on e-waste through UNEP social media channels to raise awareness.

Description: Blog article on the theme of IEWD and progress on e-waste activities under the Basel Convention
www.basel.int

Publication in in UN languages of:

• Guidance document on the environmentally sound management of used and end of life computing equipment;


• Guideline on environmentally sound testing, refurbishment and repair of used computing equipment;


• Guideline on environmentally sound material recovery
  and recycling of end-of-life computing equipment;

Description: The BRS Secretariat will launch a social media campaign to raise awareness of the e-waste amendments adopted by the Basel Convention Parties in June 2022.

A new feature/article will be released on the theme of International E-waste Day and the Basel Convention developments.

The Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for Central and Eastern Europe in Slovakia, will organize a webinar on the Basel Convention Technical Guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste and used electrical and electronic equipment, in particular on the distinction between waste and non waste under the Basel Convention. The webinar will be organized on 14 October, at 10 am (CEST).

A public event will be organized online to raise awareness of the e-waste amendments adopted by the Basel Convention Parties at the fifteenth meeting, by the BRS Secretariat (tbc).

Description: The e-learning course “How to Prevent E-Waste?” aims to raise awareness of the scale and the impact of e-waste. The course also provides learners with knowledge, skills, and resources to help minimize their contribution to e-waste.

Geared towards younger people, who are most likely to generate e-waste, the course aims to create change agents, able to act and promote the e-waste prevention.

The 2-hour course is user-friendly, consumer-focused, solution-oriented. After a course introductory module, the course takes learners through the main approaches for tackling e-waste from least desired to most preferred, as follows: 2) recycling, 3) reuse & repair, and 4) reduction.


The course is a collaboration between the UN Institute for Training and Research and the Sustainable Cycle programme.

Enroll to become e-waste literate today!

Description: In cooperation with the WEEE Forum we want to show the level of knowledge of consumers worldwide regarding e-waste recycling. We want to illustrate that there are different levels of knowledge so we would like correct/positive answers alongside incorrect/negative answers.

The videos, filmed on the streets of different cities, will be compiled in a single short film divided into short sections (one per question).

Description: In honor of the International eWaste Day, the Swiss Postal Service (Die Post) and SENS eRecycling are jointly launching a project for the collection of small appliances in private households. "Become a recycling hero" is the communication topic and we encourage families to dispose their old electronic toys with this new collection option.

We have defined two test regions for the pilot – one rural, one urban. Starting on October, 14th, the collection for private households will be running for four months. The first step in the communication process is the sending out of a mailing, including an example of the collection bag. Families then have the opportunity to dispose of their electronic waste (mainly electronic toys) by putting the old devices in the mailbag and the bag into their letter box. DIE Post will then collect the bags and bring them to one of our recycling partners. All participating families will be rewarded with a key ring, stating that they are our recycling heroes.

In addition to schools and families within the test region, the media (press) will be informed. Furthermore, we are going to promote the project on our website and through social media. With this campaign we hope to increase the convenience in collection as well as the collection rate. And, finally, we want to promote and raise awareness for the International eWaste Day.

Description:

 After more than 7000 collected Electro Recycling Bags in three month and in honor of International E-Waste Day, the Swiss Postal Service (Die Post) and SENS eRecycling are for the third time jointly launching a project for the collection of small appliances in private households.

We are testing a brand new bag that can be used multiple times to recycle or even reuse appliances, all picked up by the Swiss Postal Service and then fed to the specific channels by SENS eRecycling. We have defined several test regions for this third pilot – rural and urban, in different cantons in Switzerland, for the first time in the french speaking part.

Starting on October 14th, the collection for private households will be running for four months. The first step in the communication process is the sending out of a flyer containing a QR code for the order of the reusable Electro Bag. People then have the opportunity to dispose of their electronic waste or items for reuse by putting them  in the Electro Bag and the bag into their letter box. Die Post will then collect the bags and bring them to one of our recycling partners. In addition to schools and people within the test region, the media (press) will be informed. Furthermore, we are going to promote the project on our website and through social media. After the good results from 2020, we hope to further increase the convenience in collection as well as the collection rate. After this last pilot project, we plan to be able to define a new way of collection with the highest possible convenience for all private households. And, of course, we want to promote and raise awareness for International E-Waste Day.

Description: Description: After a very big success from our pilot in 2019 and in honor of the International eWaste Day, the Swiss Postal Service (Die Post) and SENS eRecycling are for the second time jointly launching a project for the collection of small appliances in private households. We encourage people to dispose their old electronic devices with this new collection option. We have defined several test regions for this second pilot – rural and urban, in different cantons in Switzerland. Starting on October, 14th, the collection for private households will be running for four months. The first step in the communication process is the sending out of a mailing, including an example of the collection bag. People then have the opportunity to dispose of their electronic waste by putting the old devices in the mailbag and the bag into their letter box. DIE Post will then collect the bags and bring them to one of our recycling partners. In addition to schools and people within the test region, the media (press) will be informed. Furthermore, we are going to promote the project on our website and through social media and are planning a launch event. After the good results from 2019, we hope to further increase the convenience in collection as well as the collection rate. After this second pilot project, we hope to be able to define a new way of collection with the highest possible convenience for all private households. And, of course, we want to promote and raise awareness for the International eWaste Day.

Description: Every 18 months, on average, Swiss buy a new smartphone. According to estimates, over ten million old devices are stored in household - meaning that important recyclables are lost to the recycling economy. With a view to E-Waste Day on 14 October 2019, and view of its 25th birthday of successful recycling, Swico is calling on the population to return e-waste with a one-off influencer campaign: #RecycleLikeThis: Swiss influencer against e-waste.

Swico Recycling calls on the population to recycle smartphones and other digital devices with a powerful campaign. In Zurich, Bern and Basel, renowned Swiss influencers will draw attention to the urban gold mine sitting in drawers and cupboards across the country. The celebrities have already started to post on Instagram and will be present at the collection points, posting selfies with the people who bring their devices. Follow the hashtag #RecycleLikeThis for more!

Description: Switzerland is currently considering a new approach to WEEE - a change in politics that may affect Swico Recycling in numerous ways. We therefore do not launch any specific actions for the International e-Waste Day, but will use Social Media to alert people about the topic.

Description: ITC’s tech sector development project team will perform a small social media campaign that will feature startups / SMEs beneficiaries that focus on e-waste. They provide a quote on their passion for the business/why e-waste is important and a picture. The images will air on the 14^th of October on the projects social media channels and ITCs Twitter account.

 

Description: The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions is delighted to participate in, and spread the word about, International E-Waste Day 2020, and wish every success to the WEEE Forum in raising awareness of this critical E-waste challenge.

For more information on E-waste, including the Basel Convention's agreed Technical Guidelines on the Environmentally Sound Management of E-waste, and the recently re-launched second version of the successful Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the E-waste Challenge, please see our website www.basel.int or follow our twitter feed @brsmeas.

Global Agreements for a Healthy Planet

In addition, in the context of the celebrations for the International E-waste Day, 2020, we would like to invite you to participate in an E-waste Challenge MOOC live event. The webinar sessions will include a lecture on e-waste inclusive recycling by Ms. Sonia Valdivia from the World Resources Forum. Come and learn how the new E-waste challenge MOOC has been updated and is proposed in five mini-courses. This lecture is part of course five on e-waste sustainable recycling practices.

Kindly note that both sessions will present the same content. The different scheduled times are intended to accommodate as best possible participation from different time zones.

Schedule and registration

Please register a few days in advance of the sessions utilizing the following links:

Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 10:00 (CEST) https://unep-brs.webex.com/unep-brs/j.php?RGID=r2f05992ccf85a03b6d342936f0d19197 

Thursday, 29 October 2020, 16:00 (CEST) https://unep-brs.webex.com/unep-brs/j.php?RGID=r6a023a964e81e7185a239f642f8de7b6

To verify your local time for the beginning of these sessions, the following Time Zone Converter can be consulted.

Additional information on both sessions can be found on the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions website at:
http://www.basel.int/Default.aspx?tabid=4210&meetId=55998FD3-F90D-EB11-9D1B-005056857856&lang=en.

Description: We would like to promote the E-waste challenge Massive Online Course available at:

http://www.basel.int/Implementation/TechnicalAssistance/MOOC/tabid/4966/Default.aspx

We are organizing webinars on recycling and on e-waste generation. Will be available on this page www.basel.int

We are circulating the information on the International E-waste Day among the members and the observers of Follow up Partnership to PACE, promoting their participation.

In addition, in the context of the celebrations for the International E-waste Day, 2020, we would like to invite you to participate in an E-waste Challenge MOOC live event. The webinar sessions will include a lecture on e-waste inclusive recycling by Ms. Sonia Valdivia from the World Resources Forum. Come and learn how the new E-waste challenge MOOC has been updated and is proposed in five mini-courses. This lecture is part of course five on e-waste sustainable recycling practices.

Kindly note that both sessions will present the same content. The different scheduled times are intended to accommodate as best possible participation from different time zones.

Schedule and registration

Please register a few days in advance of the sessions utilizing the following links:

Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 10:00 (CEST) https://unep-brs.webex.com/unep-brs/j.php?RGID=r2f05992ccf85a03b6d342936f0d19197 

Thursday, 29 October 2020, 16:00 (CEST) https://unep-brs.webex.com/unep-brs/j.php?RGID=r6a023a964e81e7185a239f642f8de7b6

To verify your local time for the beginning of these sessions, the following Time Zone Converter can be consulted.

Additional information on both sessions can be found on the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions website at:
http://www.basel.int/Default.aspx?tabid=4210&meetId=55998FD3-F90D-EB11-9D1B-005056857856&lang=en.

 

Description: The Circular Electronic Partnership (CEP), comprising of six partner organizations, offers a pre-competitive platform for the electronics value chain to collaborate, coordinate, co-create and cross-fertilize. Our 25+ members represent the world’s most progressive companies, aiming to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and circular electronics sector.

To raise awareness about International E-Waste Day and the importance of keeping even the smallest electronic products in circulation, CEP will launch a communications campaign through our existing channels, including social media, website and email.

Description: We will support the IEWD by sharing posts on our corporate and personal social media accounts.

Description: The WRF Secretariat will conduct a social media campaign highlighting the need for sustainable recycling of e-waste. Posts will appear on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram, with an awareness raising video "Tales of Trash" as highlight. This video will be promoted through YouTube as well.

On October 23-24 dedicated sessions on e-waste will be conducted at the occasion of World Resources Forum 2019, to be organised in Geneva, Switzerland, by the Sustainable Recycling Industries and H2020 CEWASTE teams.