Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2010-11 Box 3.5: Ways that ICTs can reduce GHG emissions • ICTs increase information flow and networking and can reduce duplication of activities across and between organi-zations; • ICTs allow for a systematic approach on local, regional and international levels in order to deal with complex, multi-disciplinary issues such as the environment; • Web services can save energy and reduce GHG emissions; • Free and low-cost web-based applications help developing countries save financial resources, which can be put to-wards green initiatives; and • More energy efficient devices lead to lower GHG emissions. Source: ITU, ICTs for e-Environment: Guidelines for Developing Countries, with a Focus on Climate Change 3.4.1.2 E-waste the production of e-waste is growing by about 40 mil-lion tons per year.60 By 2030, developing countries will Rapid technological changes in the ICT sector, rising discard 400 million to 700 million obsolete personal computers each year as compared to 200 million to 300 million in developed countries.61 incomes and falling prices for electronic products have resulted in a seemingly endless number of new elec-tronic products with many economic and social bene-fits. However, the proliferation (and short product Given the growth of e-waste, it is essential that po-licymakers cycles) of these devices also creates a problem as they are discarded; they become electronic waste (“e-waste”). This can be a particular problem for devel-oping implement effective legal frameworks that control both legal and illegal trade in, as well as the generation of, e-waste with active participation from governments and the private sector. Regulatory meas-ures, countries where recycling facilities may be less developed.58 Although approximately 53 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide in 2009; only 13 per cent of it was recycled.59 To compound the problem, such as stricter environmental regulations and re-cycling requirements, have been introduced in a number of countries to prevent or minimize e-waste. Figure 3.8: Quantities of e-waste generated from PCs in Senegal and Uganda, 2005-2020 Quantity of e-waste generated from PC 16'000 14'000 12'000 [metric tonnes] 10'000 8'000 6'000 4'000 2'000 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Senegal Uganda Source: UNEP, Recycling—From E-Waste to Resources Chapter 3 97