On October 27, during the BIR Electrics, Electronics & EV Batteries Committee in Bangkok, Thailand. The session explored how the recycling industry is adapting to global transformations and driving sustainable electronic recycling through data-driven strategies and policy development. The discussion was chaired by Josephita Harry of Pan American Zinc LLC (United States).
The first speaker of the session was Dr. Kees Baldé, Senior Scientific Specialist at UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research). Dr. Baldé emphasized that “without good data, there is no good information and therefore no good policy,” stressing that the collection and analysis of reliable data forms the basis of sustainable recycling policy.
Midway through his presentation, Dr. Baldé shared what he called “BIG NEWS”: BIR and UNITAR have formally entered into a partnership and will jointly produce the next edition of the globally recognized Global E-Waste Monitor, scheduled for release in 2027. He noted that the collaboration will expand the research — previously focused mainly on Europe — to a truly global scale by leveraging BIR’s international network.
Dr. Baldé also presented the headline findings from the latest 2024 edition of the Monitor:
- 62 billion kg of electronic waste was generated in 2022 (equivalent to 7.8 kg per person)
- Only 22.3% was recycled through environmentally sound processes
- Global e-waste volumes are projected to reach 82 billion kg by 2030
Dr. Baldé noted that the expansion of recycling capacity continues to lag behind the rapid increase in waste generation — a situation he described as “far from a good story.” He expressed concern that although electronic waste contains more than USD 90 billion worth of valuable metals, including gold, iron and copper, much of this material remains unrecovered. While a portion is processed by the informal sector, he stressed that stronger institutional frameworks and international cooperation will be essential to achieving significantly higher recovery rates. He also underscored the geographical concentration of critical resources, pointing to the need to mitigate supply risks and accelerate resource circularity going forward.
Looking ahead, UNITAR plans to launch a survey among BIR members with the aim of establishing industry benchmarks by comparing the collected data against global averages. The newly announced partnership between BIR and UNITAR was welcomed on stage by BIR President Susie Burrage and BIR Director General Arnaud Brunet, both of whom emphasized that the collaboration is expected to reinforce the industry’s credibility and amplify its global influence.
Session Chair Josephita Harry closed the session by saying she was “proud that our work can now be made visible to the world,” adding a powerful final remark: “Electronics recycling is not the end — it is the beginning of value.”
The next speaker, Federico Zanotti, BIR Trade & Environment Officer, provided an overview of the amendments to the Basel Convention on electronic waste, which came into effect in January 2025, reporting that the changes are already having a significant impact on international recycling trade.
Under the revised framework, all electronic waste — regardless of whether it is classified as hazardous or non-hazardous — is now subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. As a result, materials previously traded freely as non-hazardous (formerly under code B1110) have been reclassified under the new Y49 code. This change has led to cases in which even processed recycling materials, such as shredded electronics and metal scrap, are being treated as “waste” for the purposes of international shipments.
Mr. Zanotti noted that the new code categorizes materials based on their origin rather than their actual composition, which has resulted in recycled metals being restricted despite their material characteristics. Increasingly strict interpretations by customs authorities worldwide have amplified the issue, with containers shipped by BIR member companies being detained for presumed misclassification. In some ports, hundreds of containers are reported to be stalled, leading to shipment delays and mounting logistical costs.
To address the disruption, BIR has been engaging with the United Nations, the OECD and national environmental authorities to seek clearer definitions and a harmonized interpretation of the amended rules. A dedicated UN working group has now been established to develop guidelines for the application of the Y49 code, with BIR actively contributing to the drafting process.
Mr. Zanotti emphasized that the amendment was never intended to restrict the international movement of non-ferrous metal scrap and argued that closing the gap between the Convention’s legal interpretation and its practical implementation has now become the industry’s most urgent priority.
The next speaker, Dylan Roman, CEO of Niu Niu Resources (Mexico), presented an optimistic perspective on the PIC procedure, positioning it not simply as a regulatory barrier but as “a framework that makes trust visible.” Roman described electronics recycling as a form of “urban mining,” asserting that existing urban infrastructure and end-of-life products now constitute a strategically important resource base. He noted that the mineral stock embedded in cities is estimated to exceed that of all surface mines combined, indicating that future resources may lie less underground and more within the urban environment. Roman further emphasized that PIC can support the development of legally and ethically traceable supply chains, adding that companies able to demonstrate trust and transparency will shape tomorrow’s market.
The final speaker, Yousef Al Sharif of Sharif Metals Group (United Arab Emirates) — a family-owned company founded in 1963 and active across both ferrous and non-ferrous recycling — examined recent market developments and policy trends across the Middle East and South Asia. Al Sharif reported that the closure of Red Sea shipping routes and rising insurance premiums have driven transportation costs up by roughly USD 110 per tons. In the UAE, export taxes currently stand at USD 109 for steel and copper and USD 82 for electronic materials. New inspection protocols in Malaysia and Vietnam have also increased compliance costs and caused export delays of up to one week.
According to Al Sharif, the industry has entered “an era in which policy is moving faster than the market,” and recyclers able to meet escalating expectations for compliance, transparency and quality — rather than simply price competitiveness — are likely to lead the sector over the next decade. He also highlighted the growing relevance of digital traceability solutions such as blockchain and QR-based tracking, noting their effectiveness in minimizing border delays and strengthening buyer confidence.
Toward the end of the session, a Q&A focused on the definition of “thresholds” under the amended Basel Convention. Participants discussed the appropriateness of the threshold values and the practical difficulty of sampling and measurement, highlighting the need for further regulatory clarification.
Taken as a whole, the BIR Electrics, Electronics & EV Batteries Division session moved well beyond technical considerations, converging on the themes of data, policy, trust and transparency. The discussion reinforced the view that the recycling sector is no longer defined by the end of waste, but by the beginning of value on a global scale.
(IRuniverse Midori Fushimi)
