Improving Working Conditions in the Processing of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (E-Waste)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of International Affairs (ILAB) is seeking input to this Request for Information (RFI) to inform future programming focused on improving working conditions in the processing of E-waste. E-waste includes a wide range of electric and electronic devices, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, mobile phones and computers, solar panels, and medical devices.[1] This request is for information purposes only, to help ILAB gain a better understanding of working conditions in the processing of E-waste, including the collection of such materials, and how they are recycled, traced, or disposed of in a final state (such as burned or buried). This RFI seeks to identify efforts of businesses, governments, international organizations, worker organizations, NGOs, and other actors to create decent work[2] and promote fundamental labor rights in E-waste processing, including:

·        Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.

·        Elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor.

·        Effective abolition of child labor.

·        Elimination of discrimination with respect to employment and occupation.

·        Ensuring a safe and healthy working environment.

This is not a funding opportunity announcement.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Respondents are not required to respond to all questions but may choose to do so. Responding to this RFI will not give an advantage to any organization or individual for any possible subsequent procurement action, nor will it lead to a future organizational conflict of interest related to a procurement action. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future funding opportunity announcement, if any is issued. If a funding opportunity announcement is issued, it will be posted on www.sam.gov and/or www.grants.gov, and all interested parties must respond to that funding opportunity announcement separately from any response to this RFI.

ILAB may use any, all, or none of the information submitted in response to this RFI. Respondents must identify any information they consider to be sensitive or proprietary. Any information submitted will not be returned, and no payment will be made by the Government for information provided in response to this RFI. Respondents may submit information, along with their contact information, as Word or PDF documents in a single email not exceeding 45 MB.

[1] E-waste includes: (1) temperature controlling equipment (e.g., refrigerators and air conditioners), (2) screens and monitors (e.g., televisions and laptops), (3) lamps, (4) large equipment (e.g., washing machines, copying machines, and photovoltaic panels), (5) small equipment (e.g., electronic toys, microwave ovens, small medical devices, and e-cigarettes), and (6) small IT and telecommunications equipment (e.g., mobile phones and printers). See Forti V., Balde C.P., Kuehr R., Bel G. The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. United Nations University (UNU)/United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – co-hosted SCYCLE Programme, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) & International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Bonn/Geneva/Rotterdam.

[2] According to the International Labor Organization, “decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.” See Decent work | International Labour Organization.

Responses to this RFI should be sent by email to Pilar Velasquez at velasquez.pilar@dol.gov no later than Monday, February 24, 2025, at 11:59PM EDT. Please include RFI Number RFI-ILAB-25-01 in the subject line. All inquiries concerning this RFI must be directed only to the email address specified.

Thank you for your interest in ILAB programs, and we look forward to your comments.

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Background

 

In 2020, the world generated 62 billion kg of E-waste, and it is projected to increase to 82 billion kg by 2030. However, only 17 percent of E-waste is processed, and in some cases, it is shipped illegally to other countries for processing.[1] Approximately 64 million people work in the waste management sector worldwide, and the number is expected to grow by 70 percent by 2030, particularly in E-waste processing.[2]

 

Workers, including women and children, perform a variety of activities in E-waste processing, such as collection, sorting, shredding, recycling, etc. E-waste contains metals such as gold, silver, and rare earth elements.[3] Handling E-waste exposes workers to hazardous materials such as cadmium, lead, mercury, and other toxic materials. In addition, communities next to landfills are affected by e-waste leaches into the soil, water, and air.[4]

 

The objective of this RFI is to inform ILAB’s future programming on working conditions on E-waste processing, and will be used to identify research gaps, promising approaches, practices, and policies to promote decent work in E-waste processing. ILAB seeks input, recommendations, and promising practices from a broader audience that works on E-waste processing, from research and policy to job creation and promoting decent work.

 

GUIDING QUESTIONS

Understanding the Context

 

• Is there any data on the number of workers who are involved in E-waste processing globally?

• Which countries are significantly involved in E-waste processing? How is the sector structured and how does it operate? Who is involved in E-waste processing and what are the working conditions like? What is its impact on health conditions of workers and communities nearby?

• How is E-waste transported across borders? Are there any supply-chain challenges related to E-waste?

• In what ways does the informality of E-waste processing increase labor exploitation and impact workers differently based on gender, age, ethnicity, vulnerability, or intersectionality factors?

• To what extent have these countries established laws and/or policies, or are in the process of doing so, to make this economic sector viable, ensure protections for workers in the sector, and promote decent work? Are there any E-waste laws and/or policies that have increased labor exploitation? What actions are needed to improve working conditions in E-waste processing?

 

 

Promising Practices

 

• What are some examples of laws and/or policies that seek to make E-waste processing economically viable, provide protections for workers, and promote decent work?

• What are some examples of E-waste processing operations with high labor standards, and to what extent might the same capabilities be adopted in other countries?

• What are some examples of available evidence or research about working conditions in E-waste processing?

• What are some effective ways to engage with governments, businesses, workers, and other actors to improve working conditions in E-waste processing? Are there promising practices in adjacent sectors that could be applied to e-waste?

 

Opportunities

 

• Where are the best opportunities (by region, subsector or product) to improve working conditions in E-waste processing?

• How might we support efforts to formalize E-waste processing in a way that promotes labor rights and decent work?

• What role might DOL play to positively improve working conditions in E-waste processing?

• What other questions should we be asking?

 

Responses to this RFI should be sent by email to Pilar Velasquez at velasquez.pilar@dol.gov no later than February 24, 2025 at 11:59PM EDT. Please include RFI Number RFI-ILAB-25-01 in the subject line. Respondents may submit information, along with their contact information, as Word or PDF documents in a single email not exceeding 45 MB. All inquiries concerning this RFI must be directed only to the email addresses identified above.

[1] See World Health Organization. Children and digital dumpsites: e-waste exposure and child health, 2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240023901

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid. Also see, World Economic Forum. A New Circular Vision for Electronics Time for a Global Reboot, 2019. /www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_A_New_Circular_Vision_for_Electronics.pdf

[4] See Rethink Waste. Electronic Waste (E-waste) Recycling. University of Richmond. https://rethinkwaste.richmond.edu/recycle/electronic-waste-recycling.