Food for thought for SIDS. The French Government is making efforts to reduce e-waste, by paying for repairs. ISLANDS will be building a remaking workshop, to facilitate electronic repair in Samoa - by doubling the life of e-waste we can half the amount of e-waste produced. See World Economic Forum short video for more information.

Dear e-Waste Group Members,

As part of the ISLANDS Coordination, Communication and Knowledge Management (CCKM) Project, I am gathering information on e-waste management & recycling initiatives in SIDS. We are looking to identify case studies to support the development of a best practice guidance. We could learn from any initiatives that are either recently launched or already under progress with success or with challenges.

If you have knowledge of such initiatives, I would appreciate learning about any local resources and contacts on small islands.

I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks in advance for your input!

Are you in Trinidad and Tobago and you have an old mobile phone that is gathering dust at home? Check every drawer and shelf and bring them to BCRC Caribbean bins!

As part of the "Demonstration of the Environmentally Sound Management of Used and End-of-Life Mobile Phones in Trinidad and Tobago" BCRC Caribbean is collecting old phones to prevent pollution.

Be a part of the change, recycle your old mobile phones!

Practical info:
You can drop off your waste mobile phone at the BCRC-Caribbean Office located at #8 Alexandra Street, Port of Spain. From Monday 13th June 2022, collection bins will be installed across Trinidad and Tobago for your ease of access at the following locations:

- BCRC-Caribbean, St. Clair, Port of Spain
- Bmobile The Falls at Westmall, Westmoorings
- Bmobile Trincity Mall, Trinicity
- Digicel Eastern Main Road, Sangre Grande
- Bmobile Centre City Mall, Chaguanas
- Digicel C3 Centre, San Fernando
- Environmental Management Authority (EMA) San Fernando
- Digicel Penal
Digicel Excellent City Centre, Port of Spain
- Bmobile Scarborough

As we know, the transition to renewables will not come without an environmental cost. Batteries, EV, solar panels and many other products require rare metals - many of which are to be fund in the Ocean.

Companies keen to scrape the ocean floor 5,000 to 6,000 metres below sea level stand to earn billions harvesting manganese, cobalt, copper and nickel. Currently, about 20 research institutes or companies hold exploration contracts in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

However, mining - wherever it happens - often comes with very high social and environmental impacts. Some Pacific countries have expressed their concern at the UN Ocean Conference. Palau and Fiji - backed by Samoa, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands - have initiated an uphill battle against the deep-sea mining of unattached, fist-sized rocks rich in rare earth metals.

To many's surprise, French president Macron seemed in favour of a total ban on deep-sea mining.

Our Right to Repair: an Update from the Front Lines

Food for thought right to repair presentation, for every 1000 tons of electronics produced:

- Landfilling - creates 1 job
- Recycling - creates 15 jobs
- Repairing - creates 200 jobs

Electronics are often built to be difficult to repair/take apart - for example, Apple's MacBooks have glued-in batteries which takes time to take out, Apple also started using Penelope screws which are specific to the brand, therefore forcing you to go to their own stores to fix any problems

In the US, the Right to Repair Bill is now enacted in 27 states - requires electronic manufacturers to provide the same access to parts, tools, and information, that they provide for their own repair services

Basel Action Network Side Event
Great video on Basel Convention and e-waste here. According to Basel Action Network – e-waste trade is directed to Africa and Asia. The Basel Convention calls for:

- Self-sufficiency in waste management;
- Minimizing all forms of transboundary movement of hazardous and other wastes;
- Minimizing the generation of hazardous and other waste;
- Environmentally sounds management of waste which is produced.

The Basel Convention controls exports of hazardous and other wastes through prohibitions and banning. If the export was illegal ie doesn’t meet the requirements of the Basel Convention, there is a provision for the exporting country to take it back after 30 days

Mine e-waste, not the Earth, say scientists

Our tech consumption habits remain highly unsustainable and have left us at risk of exhausting the raw elements we need. The amount of e-waste generated is growing by about two million tonnes every year, but less than 20% is collected and recycled.