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WTDC 2025

​Developing and implementing e-waste policy and regulation for a circular economy​ in Paraguay, Rwanda, and Zambia

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Signing of the project​ agreement between ITU and CST during the Global Symposium for Regulators 2023.​


Objectives and Expected Impact


This project has the general objective of increasing the coverage of national strategies, policies, and regulations on the circular economy of "waste from electronic and electrical equipment" (e-waste).
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​The project has these specific objectives:
  • to foster a culture of better monitoring of national e-waste management performance
  • to increase the global take-up of environmentally sound national and regionally harmonized circular economy e-waste management policies 
  • to promote governmental, corporate, and societal responsibility and to adopt sustainability best practices by fostering circular economy and e-waste management to reduce the negative impact resulting from non-sustainable disposal of devices.
​Towards the end of the project, the following impact are expected:
  • a sound implementation of national e-waste policy and regulations in the recipient countries — Paraguay, Rwanda, and Zambia — using the normative tools and steps outlined in the ​Policy practices for e-waste management - First edition​ and Handbook for the Development of a Policy Framework on ICT/E-waste.
  • tailored policy development for recipient countries, which cuts across all sectors and involves all actors of the electronics value chain in its preparation; an increased engagement of the relevant actors in partnerships and initiatives promoting a circular economy for electronics is also expected​
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Participants of the Consultation Workshop with government and private sector stakeholders October 2024 in Paraguay.

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​Participants of the Validation Workshop for Regulations on Electrical and Electronic Products and Producer Compliance in March 2025 in Rwanda.
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​Participants of the second High-level Breakfast Meeting held in February 2025 in Zambia, discussing the results of the financing study for EPR implementation in Zambia


​Background

The ITU Strategic Plan (2024 – 2027) calls for significant improvement of ICT’s contribution to climate and environmental action. Resolution 182 (Rev./2022 Bucharest, 2022) of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference calls for capacity building to increase the number of countries with an e-waste policy, legislation or regulation. Resolution 66 on ICT, environment, climate change and circular economy of the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (Rev. Kigali, 2022) instructs ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: 

“To assist developing countries in undertaking proper assessment of the magnitude of e-waste and in initiating pilot initiatives to achieve environmentally sound management of e-waste through e-waste collection, dismantling, refurbishing and recycling.” 

An estimated 62 million tonnes of e-waste was generated globally in 2022, according to the latest Global E-waste Monitor. However, only around 22 per cent of this was formally collected to be re-used or recycled. Only 81 countries have e-waste regulation in place, and only 67 of these take into account extended producer responsibility (EPR), a principle that helps boost collection and recycling. 

With the global e-waste generation rate currently surpassing the formal recycling rate, there is an urgent need to establish e-waste management systems and strengthen policies that are already​ in place.

Ensuring that a sound national policy basis is in place and that policymakers and industry actors understand e-waste management are the initial steps towards shifting to a circular economy for e-waste. To help address the challenge, ITU works with countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in promoting the circularity of e-waste through a regulatory approach. 

Countries need support in developing well-funded, fair, and viable e-waste systems, benefiting from shared global expertise and experiences. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing and implementing e-waste regulation. There are strong indications of country intentions to improve e-waste management through greater response from electronics companies based on crystal clear regulation.


E-waste Policy Toolkit

​To maximize dissemination and impact, lessons learned and best practices identified during the project's capacity-development events and webinars, and the recipient country progress will be compiled into a toolkit publication for policymakers, a second edition of the version released in 2021. The ​Policy practices for e-waste management: Tools for a balanced and fair circular economy - Second edition​ was released on 3 September 2025.

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​​​This project is supported by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST)​ of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and​ implemented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

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Participating Countries
Paraguay, Rwanda, Zambia

Duration
July 2023 - July 2026​ 

Contact
Garam Bel, Circular Economy Coordinator, garam.bel@itu.int​

Go back to the main Circular Economy for Electronics page here. ​​

DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT

​Policy practices for e-waste management: Tools for a balanced and fair circular economy - Second e​dition​​​​

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