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Governments agree to UN e-waste pact
11/12/2006 13:46
Governments from around the world have agreed to try and put a cap on the amount of e-waste created by businesses and firms.
Many tonnes of hi-tech office equipment are being sent to landfill sites, mostly in the developing world, which is having a negative effect on the environment.
This has led a number of leading governments to agree to a UN pact that will see them work to reduce the amount of electronic office equipment being needlessly thrown away.
As part of the scheme, the governments will offer services to take back used electronic products and will work collaboratively to try and stop the tide of equipment mounting up in landfill sites around the world.
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) executive director Achim Steiner said: "By partnering with the private sector and with civil society, they can promote collection chains that channel obsolete goods back to their original manufacturers for recovery and recycling."
The growing demand for electronic equipment, both in the home and the office, generates between 20 and 50 million tonnes of e-waste every year.
UNEP officials claim that this is due to rapid advancements made in technology on a regular basis, which can render recently purchased home products and office equipment defunct in only a short matter of time.
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