E-waste in Laos - Material composition analysis and implications for recycling

The material composition is a key driver to identify recycling and other end-of-life options such as reuse and repair and disposal of e-waste. The Institute of Waste Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) and the Faculty of Environmental Science, National University of Laos (NUOL) plan cooperative research on e-waste. Selected devices are collected, dismantled, and sampled for further analytical procedures. The results then can be compared to data gained in Europe from finalized research projects at BOKU (see Unger et al., 2017, Jandric et al. 2020). With years of experience in e-waste research, BOKU aims to support NUoL to strengthen the knowledge and teaching capacities of the faculty members and students on e-waste management. Research Questions: What is the current state of e-waste management in Vientiane, including e-waste generation, collection system, treatment and disposal practices? Is the material composition of e-waste in Laos comparable to the composition in Europe? Activities in this 12 months project are to analyse the material streams and economics of e-waste management in Laos and determine the material composition of selected product types and compare it to e-waste in Europe. The expected outcomes from this cooperation are a country report on “e-waste in Laos”, with mass flows along the life cycle and cost analysis. An e-waste dismantling station, established at the Plastic and Waste Management Training Centre at NUOL, is to be used for further analysis and teaching. A joint publication on e-waste materials composition (hazardous components, valuable materials, and Brominated Flame Retardants) and comparison between e-waste in Laos and Austria with a focus on IT products and identifying incentives for collection and recycling. The exchange of learning teaching experience and potential future cooperation.