Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Environmentally Sound Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the E-waste Sector – International Good Practices

The objectives of the Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Environmentally Sound Management of POPs in the E-waste Sector – International Good Practices were to enhance participants' understanding of the environmental and health risks posed by Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the e-waste sector, and to share international best practices, regulatory approaches, and technological innovations for their environmentally sound management. The workshop aimed to support the development and strengthening of national policies and operational guidelines in Malaysia by providing relevant knowledge and tools. It also sought to foster multi-stakeholder engagement by promoting dialogue and collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, academia, and international experts. Additionally, the event aimed to identify opportunities for technical and institutional capacity building, assess national needs, and introduce ongoing international and regional initiatives under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions that could serve as references or support mechanisms for national implementation.

• Welcome Remarks were delivered by Ms. Puan Thahirah binti Kamarulzaman, Senior Principal Assistant Director, Hazardous Substances Division, Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia. She underscored the importance of regional and international cooperation in addressing the complex issue of POPs in e-waste. DOE also shared updates on Malaysia’s ongoing national initiatives, including the draft Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) regulation and the development of a national POPs inventory under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
• Opening Remarks were given by Ms. Carla Valle Klann from the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. She emphasized the intrinsic connection between chemicals and waste, stressing the urgent need for global collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of plastic waste and e-waste management systems, particularly in developing countries.
• Introductory Session was led by Dr. Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, Director of IGES-CCET. He outlined the project’s core objectives: raising awareness, conducting assessments of existing policies and practices, and promoting data-driven strategies for POPs management in Malaysia and Thailand. He highlighted the emerging nature of POPs in e-waste streams, the importance of accurate inventories, and the environmental and health risks linked to informal recycling practices.
• Dr. Natsuko Kajiwara from Japan shared Japan’s regulatory and technical approach to managing POPs in e-waste. She emphasized the need to separate CRT casings containing DecaBDE and introduced national legislation such as the Home Appliances Recycling Act. Drawing on findings from large-scale studies on plastic components in consumer products, she pointed out that even trace contamination can compromise recycling quality, advocating for controlled incineration of POP-containing materials to prevent unintentional releases.
• Ms. Jitka Straková from the Czech Republic presented findings from field studies conducted in Thailand on the health and environmental impacts of informal e-waste recycling. Elevated levels of PBDEs and Dechlorane Plus were found in the environment and in the blood samples of workers. She recommended improved occupational health measures, regular medical monitoring, and an immediate cessation of open burning of e-waste materials.
• Dr. Joshua Babayemi of Nigeria shared a practical methodology for developing national POPs inventories and recommended that Malaysia consider using Tier 2 estimation techniques, which rely on locally sourced EEE/WEEE data. He emphasized the role of inventories in strategic regulatory planning and introduced tools and templates for implementation. He also identified critical regulatory gaps and proposed the development of POP-specific legislation, along with the integration of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms.
• Dr. Timo Seppälä from Finland provided an overview of Finland’s circular economy roadmap and discussed the role of EPR in managing hazardous substances in the recycling chain. He explained the European Union's POPs regulations, including contamination thresholds and challenges in identifying hazardous additives during sorting and recycling processes. He stressed that effective recycling systems must be underpinned by robust legal frameworks, advanced separation technologies, and strict monitoring mechanisms.

During the open discussions, participants acknowledged that the topic of POPs in e-waste remains relatively new in the Malaysian context. Stakeholders from government, academia, and industry expressed appreciation for the technical knowledge shared during the workshop. Agencies such as the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRES) reiterated their commitment to improving regulatory frameworks and highlighted the need for reliable inventories, inter-agency collaboration, and alignment with international obligations under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions.

Industry representatives raised concerns about the economic implications of new regulations, particularly related to the detection, separation, and safe disposal of POPs-containing components. They stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in shaping realistic and inclusive policy measures. Some participants also called for greater clarity on available detection technologies for identifying POPs in waste streams and showed interest in the recent approval of the EPR framework by the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC).

In addition, several stakeholders emphasized the need for ongoing health monitoring of e-waste workers and advocated for integrating POPs management into broader national chemical safety and waste management strategies. These discussions concluded with a shared recognition of the importance of continued knowledge exchange, capacity building, and pilot implementation to support the transition toward more sustainable and compliant e-waste management systems in Malaysia.