E-Waste Collection, Sorting and Upcycling

E-Waste Collection, Sorting and Upcycling in Mauritius

Photo by UNDP Mauritius

E-Waste Collection, Sorting and Upcycling
SectorMost major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Infrastructure
Waste Management
Business Model Description

Set up recycling plants for treating and recycling collected Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), colloquially known as e-waste, and classified as hazardous waste due to the presence of substances such as mercury, cadmium, lead, hexavalent chromium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Recover materials within WEEE, including scarce metal resources, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and printed circuit boards. Operate as a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) and an integral part of envisaged regulation on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for WEEE.

Expected Impact

Prevent dumping and burning of e-waste, promote recycling of valuable resources, and reduce environmental pollution.

Indicative ReturnDescribes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
> 25% (in GPM)
Investment TimeframeDescribes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Medium Term (5–10 years)
Market SizeDescribes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
< USD 50 million
Average Ticket Size (USD)Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
< USD 500,000
Direct ImpactDescribes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)
Indirect ImpactDescribes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Good health and well-being (SDG 3) Life Below Water (SDG 14) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)
Sector Sources
  • 1) African Development Bank. 2020. Country Strategic Paper (CSP) 2014-2018 and CSP update 2019-2020 Completion Report and 2020 Country Portfolio Performance Review. https://www.afdb.org/en/documents/mauritius-country-strategy-paper-csp-2014-2018-and-csp-update-2019-2020-completion-report-and-2020-country-portfolio-performance-review. 2) Republic of Mauritius. 2021. Budget Speech 2021-2022, Better Together. https://budgetmof.govmu.org/Documents/2021_22budgetspeech_english.pdf. 3) Government of Mauritius. 2013. Maurice Ile Durable: Policy, Strategy and Action Plan. https://www.greengrowthknowledge.org/sites/default/files/downloads/policy-database/MAURITIUS%29%20Maurice%20Ile%20Durable.pdf. 4) Republic of Mauritius. 2021. Public Sector investment Programme 2021 - 2022 to 2025 - 2026. https://budgetmof.govmu.org/Documents/2021_22PSIP.pdf. 5) Government of Mauritius. June 15, 2020. Construction industry to drive the economic recovery of Mauritius, states National Infrastructure Minister. http://www.govmu.org/English/News/Pages/Construction-industry-to-drive-the-economic-recovery-of-Mauritius,-states-National-Infrastructure-Minister.aspx. 6) Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2019. Voluntary National Review Report of Mauritius 2019. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/23462Mauritius_VNR_Report_2019.pdf. 7) S. Fokeer. 2016. Industrial Waste Assessment in the Republic of Mauritius: Opportunities for Industrial Symbiosis. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340770054_INDUSTRIAL_WASTE_ASSESSMENT_IN_THE_REPUBLIC_OF_MAURITIUS_-_OPPORTUNITIES_FOR_INDUSTRIAL_SYMBIOSIS_Inclusive_and_Sustainable_Industrial_Development_Working_Paper_Series_WP_15_2016. 8) SDG Index Dashboards. 2021. Mauritius. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/static/profiles/pdfs/SDR-2021-mauritius.pdf. 9) UNDP-Business Mauritius. 2021. Circular Economy : Optimizing private sector investment in Mauritius. https://www.mu.undp.org/content/mauritius_and_seychelles/en/home/library/circular-economy--optimising-private-sector-investment-in-maurit.html. 10) National Audit Office. 2020. Environment Protection - Ensuring Proper Disposal of Hazardous Wastes. https://nao.govmu.org/Documents/Reports/2020/Environment%20Protection%20-%20Ensuring%20Proper%20Disposal%20of%20Hazardous%20Wastes.pdf#search=e%2Dwastes. 11) Government of Mauritius New. 2016. Government agrees to the establishment of an e-Wastes Management System. https://govmu.org/EN/newsgov/SitePages/2016/Government-agrees-to-the-establishment-of-an-e-Wastes-Management-System.aspx. 12) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. 2022. Briefing on Strategy and Action Plan on Resource Recovery and Recycling. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/SWMD/Brief%20on%20SW%20Strategy_06.01.22%20(2)%20(1).pdf. 13) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management & Climate Change. 2020. Theme: Solid Waste Management. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/human%20development%20report/Presentation_post%20assises_16.12.20.pdf#search=e%2Dwastes. 14) World Bank. 2021. Mauritius Country Economic Memorandum: Through the Eye of a Perfect Storm. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/586691621628367648/pdf/Mauritius-Through-the-Eye-of-a-Perfect-Storm-Coming-Back-Stronger-from-the-COVID-Crisis-A-World-Bank-Group-Country-Economic-Memorandum.pdf. 15) UNOPS. 2020. Infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women. https://content.unops.org/publications/UNOPS-Infrastructure-for-Gender-Equality-and-the-Empowerment-of-women.pdf. 16) Mauritius News. 2021. Management of our household waste: BEM recycling cleans up and recycles our devices. https://mauritiushindinews.com/hindi-newspaper-in-mauritius/management-of-our-household-waste-bem-recycling-cleans-up-and-recycles-our-devices/. 17) Neel Group. About Us. https://neelgroup.mu/about-us/. 18) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. 2020. Annual Report 2019/2020. https://environment.govmu.org/Lists/AnnualReports/Attachments/4/ANNUAL%20REPORT%202019-2020.pdf. 19) E-waste Monitor. 2021. Introduction Regional E-waste Monitor. https://ewastemonitor.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-REM_2021_CISGEORGIA.pdf. 20) ITU. 2020. The Global E-waste Monitor 2020. https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Toolbox/GEM_2020_EN_O21.pdf.
IOA Sources
  • 21) B.E.M Recycling. About Us, BEM Recycling : An Innovative Company. https://bemrecycling.com/about/. 22) UN Statistics. SDG Indicators Database. SDG Country Profile, Mauritius. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/UNSDG/countryprofiles/MUS#goal-12. 23) Government of Mauritius. 2020. Budget Speech 2019-2020. https://mof.govmu.org/Documents/Documents/2019/2019_20budgetspeech.pdf. 24) Tasleemah Bibi Kinoo. University of Technology, Mauritius. E-waste Management in Urban and Rural Areas of Mauritius: Its Implications towards Safety and Health. https://www.oshresearch.co.uk/2529407A8400006F17E1DDD89154C050842C32CE74C6ACFC0EDE216B499B667477082E0CE2C13B40/Poster%20Mauritius%20-%20Tasleemah%20Kinoo.pdf. 25) L. McAllister, A. Magee, B. Hale. 2014. Health and Human Rights Journal. Women, E-Waste, and Technological Solutions to Climate Change. https://cdn2.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/06/McAllister1.pdf. 26) United States. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste). https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste. 27) World Bank Group. 2018. What a Waste 2.0 : A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317. 28) Mauritius Research Council. 2009. E-waste quantification and characterization. https://www.repository.mu/mrc/out/out.FrontDocumentDetails.php?documentid=670. 29) Recycling Product News. 2021. New WEEE Forum report tackles fires caused by lithium batteries in e-waste. https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/36861/new-weee-forum-report-tackles-fires-caused-by-lithium-batteries-in-e-waste. 30) TCO Certified. 2020. E-waste - a toxic waste stream where valuable finite resources are lost. https://tcocertified.com/e-waste/?utm_term=%2Be%20%2Bwaste&utm_campaign=E-waste++-+spring2020&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=6451387163&hsa_cam=9522124036&hsa_grp=100698315281&hsa_ad=421524612220&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-299053005101&hsa_kw=%2Be%20%2Bwaste&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43F1n2DP6Nsmi2_Fbks_UlVRHDa_ZTLFlbPqYxDwQCJfJyQY7FXa9W3hoCcLoQAvD_BwE. 31) UNOPS. 2020. Infrastructure for Small Island Developing States, The role of infrastructure in enabling sustainable, resilient and inclusive development in SIDS. https://content.unops.org/publications/Infrastructure_SIDS_EN.pdf?mtime=20201013090607. 32) WHO. June 15, 2021. Soaring e-waste affects the health of millions of children, WHO warns. https://www.who.int/news/item/15-06-2021-soaring-e-waste-affects-the-health-of-millions-of-children-who-warns. 33) Ministry of Environment. 2020. Review of the Mauritius’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/human%20development%20report/NDC%20Review%20Process.pdf?csf=1&e=r6dJbX. 34) PAGE. 2015. Green Economy Assessment Mauritius. https://www.un-page.org/files/public/mauritius_green_economy_assessment.pdf. 35) President of the Republic of Mauritius. 2020. Government Programme 2020-2024, Towards an Inclusive, High Income and Green Mauritius, Forging Ahead. http://www.govmu.org/English//DOCUMENTS/GOVT%20PROGRAMME%202020-2024.PDF. 36) President of the Republic of Mauritius. 2013. Local Government (Registration of Recycler and Exporter) Regulations 2013. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/SWMD/Registration%20of%20Recycler%20and%20Exporter%20Regulations%202013.pdf. 37) President of the Republic of Mauritius. 2002. Environment Protection Act. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/Legislations/A.%20Acts/1(i)Consolidated%20Environment%20Protection%20Act%202002.pdf. 38) President of the Republic of Mauritius. 2001. The Environment Protection (Standards for Hazardous Wastes) Regulations 2001. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/SWMD/standards%20for%20Hazardous%20Waste%20Regulations%202001.pdf. 39) Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Gestion des déchets et du Changement climatique. La Gestion des Déchets. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/Assises/final%20solid%20waste%20moe%202019%201112.pdf. 40) SUNREF Mauritius. Towards a greener future SUNREF Mauritius, the lending programme that promotes green and inclusive growth. https://www.businessmauritius.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Brochure-SUNREF-Mauritius.pdf. 41) Corporate and Business Registration Department. 2022. File No C10394. https://companies.govmu.org:4343/MNSOnlineSearch/. 42) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. Th​e Solid Waste Management Division​, Wastes Disposal sites in Mauritius -Transfer stations and landfill.​ https://environment.govmu.org/Pages/swmd/SWMD-Waste-Disposal-Sites.aspx. 43) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management & Climate Change. 2020. Extended Producer Responsibility on Electrical & Electronic Equipment. https://www.mcci.org/media/278827/presentation-on-epr_mcci_201120.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Extender%20Producer%20Responsibility%20EPR%20Regulations&utm_content=Extender%20Producer%20Responsibility%20EPR%20Regulations+Preview+CID_6080f32fcf529a325941560ea40cef97&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=updated%20presentation. 44) Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. 2019. List of Registered Recyclers and Exporters 2019. https://environment.govmu.org/Documents/SWMD/list%20of%20recyclers.pdf. 45) ILO. 2014. Green jobs assessment Mauritius. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ent/documents/publication/wcms_317238.pdf. 46) S. Goorah and R. Boojhawon. 2009. The health impact of nonhazardous solid waste disposal in a community: the case of the Mare Chicose landfill in Mauritius. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26742661_The_health_impact_of_nonhazardous_solid_waste_disposal_in_a_community_the_case_of_the_Mare_Chicose_landfill_in_mauritius. 47) African Development Bank. 2018. Mauritius. https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-Documents/country_notes/Mauritius_country_note.pdf. 48) NDTV. 2022. India Extends $527 Million Financial Assistance To Mauritius. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-extends-527-million-financial-assistance-to-mauritius-2720115. 49) B.E.M Recycling. Our Coure Business, Recycling roadmap of WEEE. https://bemrecycling.com/our-core-business/. 50) UNIDO. 2016. Industrial Waste Assessment in the Republic of Mauritius - Opportunities For Industrial Symbiosis. https://www.un-page.org/files/public/mauritius_industrial_waste_assessment.pdf. 51) Economic Times. 2015. IT sector largest generator of e-waste; underutilised recycling capacity. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/it-sector-largest-generator-of-e-waste-underutilised-recycling-capacity/articleshow/46172152.cms?from=mdr. 52) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), 2019. Business Cases for Selected Recycling Technologies in Support of an Optimal Recycling Chain in Ghana. https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/giz2019-en-business-cases-selected-recycling.pdf.