Sustainable E-Waste Management in Asia: Analysis of Practices in Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia

Mohammad Izzat Rasnan, Ahmad Fariz Mohamed, Choo Ta Goh and Kohei Watanabe
Additional contact information
Mohammad Izzat Rasnan: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kampung Bangi, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Ahmad Fariz Mohamed: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kampung Bangi, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Choo Ta Goh: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kampung Bangi, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Kohei Watanabe: Teikyo University, 359 Otsuka, Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2016, vol. 18, issue 04, 1-23

Abstract: The seriousness of e-waste problem is down to three realities: exponential increase in total amount, environmental degradation and health complications. A call for sustainable e-waste management is no longer a utopian ambition but an absolute necessity. In accordance to that, this study aims to evaluate e-waste management practices in three Asian countries: Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, and consequently propose recommendations and insights for Malaysia on how to manage e-waste in a sustainable manner. The comparative analysis is conducted based on three central aspects comprising governance, infrastructure, and stakeholders’ participation. The outcome of this study indicates that e-waste management needs to be initiated by comprehensive regulations that are focussed on proper e-waste handling and stakeholders’ accountability. Besides, it has to be accompanied by robust infrastructure where appropriate mechanisms and effective enforcement are taking place. Finally, active participation from relevant stakeholders through involvement, support and compliance is crucial. On the whole, developing a sustainable e-waste management system is not an easy endeavour; it requires sufficient effort, capital, and time while complemented with continuous improvement.

Keywords: E-waste; management; governance; infrastructure; participation; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S146433321650023X
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wsi:jeapmx:v:18:y:2016:i:04:n:s146433321650023x

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from

DOI: 10.1142/S146433321650023X

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM) is currently edited by Thomas Fischer

More articles in Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM) from World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Tai Tone Lim ().