Moscow to host Eurasian Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment Solutions congress

The second congress of Eurasian Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment Solutions (EWEEES) has been scheduled for 28-29 March 2017 at the Congress Park Radisson Royal Hotel in Moscow.

The event will focus on the electronics recycling sector in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) nations, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. The conference’s organizers describe EWEEES as “the efficient key platform for opportunities, solutions and challenges in the EAEU for maintaining and developing the important economic contacts with authorities, producers, recyclers, scientists, associations, NGOs (nongovernmental organisations) and media.”

The organisers, who include Moscow-based Ruslom and metals information services firm Rusmet, say 2017 is “the Year of Ecology” in Russia, and the fastest growing opportunity there relates to old electrical and electronic goods that contains precious metals, copper, aluminium and steel, but also toxic heavy metals.

They also describe the EAEU as “a new and fast growing recycling market that generates about 1.5 million tonnes of electronic scrap per year with a value of more than €400 million ($430 million).”

In 2017 Russia will start an extended producer responsibility (EPR) programme for electrical and electronic scrap. Manufacturers and importers must help collect and process obsolete electronics in line with Russian circular economy legislation.

Topics to be addressed on the EWEEES programme include:

• implementation of the Eco Fee in Russia;
• the electronic scrap situation in the EAEU, including legislation and standards; and
• best available technologies for recycling.

More information on how to register for the event in Moscow can be found on this web page.