Documents Awareness - Knowledge
logo
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

E-waste recall centers to open in 2015

30 October 2014 | 01:47:00 PM

Beginning in early 2015, all residents in Vietnam will be able to bring their discarded electronic products to disposal points set up by manufacturers and importers, according to a newly released government decision.

Under Decision No 50, the electronic products will be given to manufacturers and importers at the waste-recall disposal centers, and the businesses will then take them away for recycling or proper disposal.


The recall centers to be set up in January 2015 will collect compact lamps, fluorescent lamps, computers, monitors, CPUs, printers, fax machines, scanners, cameras, camcorders, mobile phones, tablets, and DVDs.

From 2016, there will be recall centers to collect photocopiers, televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines.

Many people don’t know how to discard old or broken electronic products, and usually throw them in dumping grounds, just like other kinds of domestic waste.

This poses a significant threat to the environment as the electronic waste discharges harmful chemicals and heavy metals into the soil and water.

Commenting about Decision No 50, an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) said that it clearly states that manufacturers and importers are responsible for proper disposal.

In the past, manufacturers and importers took responsibility for product quality during warranty periods, but they did not bear any further responsibility after the end of the period.

However, with the new decision, they will have to recall products to be discarded by consumers. Moreover, the enterprises must submit written reports to MONRE about the amounts of products sold and recalled in the Vietnamese markets and how the discarded products are treated.

Electronic manufacturers have been doing this for many years in other parts of the world.

Consumers, for example, bring discarded printing ink boxes to recall centers, and the manufacturers then deal with the boxes.

Observers, while saying the decree is a reasonable decision, noted that in Vietnam, returning discarded products may not be the choice of the majority of Vietnamese.

“I believe that Vietnamese would sell discarded products to scrap-iron dealers for money rather than bring e-waste to recall centers,” an observer noted.

Duong Thanh An from the MONRE’s Environment General Directorate said in Thanh Nien that the general directorate is drafting a circular to guide the implementation of the government’s decision.

The United Nations and governmental and non-governmental organizations have rung the alarm bell over the increase of e-waste in recent years.

They estimated that the “e-waste mountain” is equivalent to the height of 200 Empire State buildings (the 102-floor skyscraper located in New York City).

Source: VietNamNet Bridge 

Views: 2304

Other news

Stray rhesus macaque released into Bai Tu Long National Park

(01/04/2025 07:23:AM )

Vietnam saves 448,000kWh of electricity during Earth Hour 2025

(26/03/2025 07:12:AM )

Hanoi tops global air pollution rankings

(24/03/2025 06:24:AM )

Ten rare white pheasants released into Cuc Phuong National Park

(23/03/2025 08:02:AM )

The book "Resource efficiency and cleaner production with sustainable industrial development" has been launched for readers

(22/03/2025 07:16:AM )

Hue clears massive oil slick.

(13/03/2025 06:46:AM )

Work begins on VND3.5 trillion waste-to-energy project in HCM City

(10/03/2025 07:00:AM )

Binh Thuan: Phu Quy Island makes efforts to eliminate plastic waste

(01/03/2025 10:01:AM )

Hanoi tops worldwide in air pollution again

(21/02/2025 07:07:AM )

VIDEO

Environmental Sustainability - we have choices

See more

ENVIRONMENT BRAND

UPCOMING EVENTS
The first Green Cypress to be recognized...

(VACNE) – These are 2 green cypress trees more than 300 years old...

See more
Some pictures of the ceremony to recognize...

(VACNE) – N(VACNE) – Authorities, mass...

See more
ADB finances climate resilience infrastructure...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $60 million financing...

See more
US support Vietnam strengthen wildlife protection

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture and...

See more
PHOTO GALLERY