Question

The Environment Bureau of HKSAR Government has recently proposed legislation for the proper management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (Hong Kong WEEE) in Hong Kong, and has consulted public views. Do you think Hong Kong WEEE should copy from the EU WEEE or China WEEE Directives? Justify your answers in 6 bullet points (or short paragraphs).

Answer 1

- The management principles and policies for waste electrical and electronic equipment is a continual improvement process. Other member nations such as the Europe has amended the directives more than once, which indicates the policies need to be revised periodically. Electrical and Electronics is on a rapid development phase, that means the products and waste generated varies with time, and it produces a totally new variants of waste within a period of few years, that some of the wastes were not in existence when the policies were framed.

- Ewaste collection process is different in both the nations. While it is more organised through municipal authorities in the Europe, it is highly informal in China.

- The process of dismantling of electrical and electronic components are carried out in a similar way in both the nations.

- The end treatment process is more developed in Europe, as it uses metellurgical treatment, is missing in China's

- It is the responsibility of the producer to finance, collect and recycle. In China, it is carried out mostly through state funded WEEE recycler.

- Both Europe and China doesn't have a one size fits all solution for the e waste, and is a work in progress. Analysis of both the regulations show positives and negatives on both. The dimension, geography, demography and other factors of Hongkong are significantly different from the two member states, and it would be best if Hongkong authorities study the existing regulations of other parties (including Europe and China) study the existing conditions in Hongkong and develop a frame work that aligns with the existing policies.