Policies, Strategies & Regulations

This section in module 5 covers the need for Polices, Strategies & Regulations within the e-Waste management space. Here, we’ll find out why are they important?

Why Policies, Strategies and Regulations are needed

  • Without national legislation, an effective control over environmental sound management of waste is extremely difficult.
  • The policy must make clear what the aims are and explain how they should be achieved.
  • Procedures and regulations follow from policy and provide a clear explanation of what “must be done” in order to implement and comply with the policy.

Relationship between Policy, Strategy and Legislation

  • A Policy Framework describes an overall strategic approach, the desired future and what needs to be achieved.
  • A Policy will identify how to achieve a particular strategic outcome, clarifying what needs to be done by whom.
  • A Strategy is a high-level policy which describes the overall process of deciding where we want to get to and how we are going to get there.
  • Legislation must provide the framework for various specifying standards for important or priority operations.

4 Key Policy Principles in WEEE management

The 4 principles below are the foundation to guide effective WEEE management. Applied together, those principles aim to create a fair, sustainable and environmentally sound system for managing WEEE.

Need to cover life cycle of used EEE

Level of regulation should be appropriate to level of risk

Need to link/complement other policy/regulation (e.g. Import/Export regulation)

Communicate with stakeholders

Need to understand purpose for effective implementation (Protect health, Protect environment, Facilitate monitoring/control)

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Further reading

For additional context, we have included an optional PDF with further reading.