Approved: February 28, 2014 Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) TERMS OF REFERENCE PACE Project Group 5.1: on Strategies, Actions and Incentives to promote Environmentally Sound Management. Title: 1. PACE Project Group 5.1: on Strategies, Actions and Incentives to promote Environmentally Sound Management. Background: 2. Following Decision VI/32 of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to promote partnerships, Decision VIII/2 of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to target the environmentally sound management of e-waste, and the success of the Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI), the PACE was initiated by Decision IX/9 of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 2bis. As per decision BC-11/15 adopted by the eleventh Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention, the mandate of the Partnership was extended until the end of 2015 to complete the work programme for 2014-2015 which inter alia includes the following tasks: (g) Continue to identify actions and incentives that can be taken to promote environmentally sound reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling and material recovery of used and endoflife computing equipment through the implementation of the Partnership guidelines and existing certification schemes; (h) Continue to assess the possibility of using facility certification as a tool for assuring the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment. 3. Within the PACE Working Group, a decision was made to address new PACE activities as reflected in the annex to the COP10 decision on PACE. It is to develop strategies on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment, to identify actions and incentives that can be taken to promote environmentally sound reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling and material recovery of used and end-of life computing equipment through the implementation of the Partnership guidelines and existing certification schemes, and assess the possibility of using facility certification as a tool for assuring the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment environmentally sound material recovery and recycling of computing equipment. Objectives: 4. The objective of the Project Group is to develop strategies, identify incentives and actions that can be taken to promote environmentally sound management, to include to: (g) Develop strategies on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment; (i) Identify actions and incentives that can be taken to promote environmentally sound reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling and material recovery of used and endof life computing equipment through the implementation of the Partnership guidelines and existing certification schemes; (j) Assess the possibility of using facility certification as a tool for assuring the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment.
Membership and Operation: 5. Project Group participants have indicated that they possess expertise or significant interest in the field of environmentally sound refurbishment and repair of used and/or waste electronic equipment. 6. A current and official list of members will be maintained by the co-chairs, with contact information as provided by the members. (Annex 1) 7. Alternate participants may attend meetings in proxy for group members, provided that the group member has provided advance notice to the co-chairs regarding the identity and qualifications of such alternate participant, and an assurance that the alternate participant is adequately prepared to participate. Alternate participants should be aware of Rules of Procedure and obligations of confidentiality. 8. The Project Group will operate pursuant to the Rules of Procedure of the PACE Working Group, applicable mutatis mutandis. Non-Member Technical and Other Experts: 9. In accordance with paragraph 30 of the Terms of Reference of the PACE, the co-chairs of the Project Group may decide to invite non-member experts possessing specialized technical knowledge on an issue to be discussed at a meeting to participate in that meeting, or parts thereof. In addition, non-members wishing to participate as experts should send their interest, which should be endorsed by an existing PACE Working Group member, a brief written proposal (2 pages maximum) to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention who would consult the PACE Working Group for their views and a decision on the expert s participation made through a written procedure by the Working Group. Non-member expert participants should be aware of Rules of Procedure and obligations of confidentiality. Meetings of the Project Group: 10. The Project Group will meet by teleconference, as needed and anticipated to be conducted once per month, with interim communication through e-mail to prepare for and report developments. Dates and times of such meetings will be set by the Co-chairs in consultation with the members.. 11. Physical meetings may be held if the Project Group determines that such meetings will be beneficial and feasible, at such times and venues as the Project Group shall determine, but normally in conjunction with physical meetings of the PACE Working Group. Such meetings will be arranged taking account of other project group activities in order to maximise the use of contributors time and travel arrangements where practicable. 12. Meeting documents will be distributed to Project Group members in advance of each meeting, and a meeting summary report will be distributed following each meeting. Duties and Responsibilities: 13. Members of the Project Group will participate actively through meetings, maintain current awareness of Project Group issues and developments, and share their expertise to further the objectives of the group.
14. Project Group Co-chairs will attend all meetings, prepare meeting agendas, lead discussions, prepare and file reports of group meetings and developments, and generally seek to facilitate and guide group members to achieve group objectives. 15. Meeting documents will be distributed to participants prior to the meeting date. A meeting summary report will also be distributed to participants of the project group following each meeting. Every effort will be made to ensure that meeting documents and summary reports are distributed to participants in a timely fashion. 16. Confidentiality will be maintained by all members in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Terms of Reference of the PACE Working Group. 17. Other duties and Responsibilities will be decided by consensus by the project group participants, members and technical experts as listed in Annex I. Annex I will be revised from time to time as new participants join the project group or as participants leave the project group. Reporting Arrangements and Approvals: 18. Official reports and communications from the Project Group will be disseminated by the Project Group co-chairs, or by the Secretariat on behalf of the Project Group co-chairs. Communications by other members of the Project Group will not officially represent the group or the views of other members of the group. 19. Project Group meeting summary reports, following review and approval of the group in a subsequent meeting, will be distributed to the co-chairs of the PACE Working Group, and to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention. 20. All work products prepared by the Project Group will be submitted by co-chairs to the PACE Working Group for review and final approval. 21. Project Tasks are set out in Annex 2. Project Tasks: Project Start and Deliverables: 22. The PACE Project Group 5.1 started with the first teleconference call on 27th March 2012. Noting that any input to COP XII would need to be prepared by end-february 2015, the final delivery of findings, conclusions and recommendations from Project Group 5.1 to the PACE Working Group is scheduled not later than the end of 2014. Project Costs: 23. The Project Group does not anticipate the need for substantial financial resources, relying instead upon in-kind contributions of participants, including the provision of teleconference facilities, and the support and services of the Secretariat of the Basel Convention, all of which are gratefully acknowledged,. However, the Project Group s work will rely on the facilitation of the consultancy support available to the PACE more generally and funded through the PACE budget provided to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention. 24. Thus financial contributions to PACE and to the Basel Convention that support the work of the PACE, and the work of the Project Group, are gratefully acknowledged. 25. Costs of physical meeting arrangements, if any, including sponsored travel of Project Group members from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, will be
funded in accordance with the terms of the the Basel Convention. PACE budget managed by the Secretariat of
Project Timelines: 26. Project Timelines are identified in Annex 3.
Annex 1: Project Group Co- chairs and Participants Co-chairs: 1. Leila Devia, BCRC-Argentina 2. Ross Bartley, BIR Participants: 3. Alberto Santos Capra, Argentina 4. Dana Lapesova, BCRC-Slovakia 5. David Seligson, ILO 6. Donovan McLaren, Kevoy Community Development Institute 7. Eric Harris, ISRI 8. Erica Logan, ITI 9. Gina Killikelly, Dell 10. Ibrahim Shafii, BRS-SSB 11. Isabelle Baudin, Switzerland 12. Jean Claude Salama, Madagascar 13. Jim Puckett, BAN 14. Jinhui Li, BCRC-ChinaJunya Kikuhara, Asian Network 15. Karen Pollard, USA 16. Lixia Zheng, BCRC, China 17. Marco Buletti, Switzerland 18. Mathias Schluep, EMPA 19. Matthias Kern, SBC 20. Michael VanderPol, Canada 21. Miguel Araujo, BCRC-CAM 22. Otmar Deubzer, UNU 23. Oladele Osibanjo, BCRC-Nigeria 24. Patricia Whiting, SIMS 25. Patrick Micheli, Consultant to SBC 26. Paul Hagen, ITI 27. Renee St.Denis, Sims Recycling Solutions 28. Ridwan Tamin, BCRC-SEA, Indonesia 29. Ruediger Kuehr, UNU 30. Sanaz Sabeti Mohammadi, BCRC-Tehran 31. Sarah Westervelt, BAN 32. Shiri Garakani, BCRC-Tehran 33. Shunichi Honda, Japan 34. Wen-Ling Chiu, IER 35. Willie Cade, PCRR 36. Yorg Aerts, OVAM, Belgium
Annex 2: Tasks and Priorities Tasks and Priorities were revised at the 6 th physical PACE meeting in South Africa on September 23-25, 2013. Annex 2 may be revised as agreed by the Project Group. (g) Develop strategies on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment Tasks Task 1: Develop short and succinct requirements of a national and regional strategy for environmentally sound management of computer equipment waste and give guidance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their policy formulation and implementation including consideration of incentive schemes (for example: voluntary, financial, regulatory, and administrative). Task 2: Identify current examples of strategies for ESM, both industry-led and Government, voluntary and mandatory. Priority High Low (i) Identify actions and incentives that can be taken to promote environmentally sound reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling and material recovery of used and end-of life computing equipment through the implementation of the Partnership guidelines and existing certification schemes Tasks Task 3: Identifying options to overcome the barriers that prevent developing countries and countries with economies in transition from implementing collection and take-back schemes as well as other strategic activities including incentive schemes (for example: voluntary, financial, regulatory, and administrative). Identifying options to overcome barriers to producers from starting up voluntary schemes in certain countries which would help to determine what incentives/support could be provided; for example geographical challenges, ensuring level playing field to producers, economic viability, lack of consumer demand, no viable end-use markets, etc Priority High (j) Assess the possibility of using facility certification as a tool for assuring the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment In carrying out this activity the Project Group will collaborate with the Basel Convention s Technical Expert Group (TEG) on ESM on the certification issues to prevent duplication of effort and ensure the outcomes are aligned, and with the Secretariat of the "Solving the E-Waste Problem" (StEP) Initiative, hosted by the United Nations University, on their development of Standards for Collection, Storage, Transport and Treatment of E-waste: Principles, Requirements and Conformity Assessment (StEP's Green Paper). Tasks Task 4: Identify and make publicly accessible information on existing certification schemes, possible use of Ad Interim Group report on ESM criteria recommendations as a start. Collect information on existing certification schemes, an assessment of the extent to which they are currently used, and the elements that appear common in the establishment of credible and reliable programs. Key items to be explored could include: - What are the key steps to get certified? Priority High
- Gather links to information/databases of certifications and registrations regarding handling of used and end-of-life computing equipment under various schemes. - What are the key components or elements that are present in widely recognized guidelines and certification schemes? - Are the existing standards used to certify facility ESM practices compatible with PACE guidelines? - How are governments, NGOs and industry using facility certification mechanisms now? - How could certification schemes be used in the future to ensure ESM and also guide decisions on TBM approvals by governments?
Annex 3 Project Timetable - Project Group 5.1 Years 2013 2014 2015 Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (g) Develop strategies on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment Task 1: Develop short and succinct requirements of a national and regional strategy for environmentally sound management of computer equipment waste and give guidance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their policy formulation and implementation including consideration of incentive schemes (for example: voluntary, financial, regulatory, and administrative). 1.1 National Strategies 1.1.1 Collect information 1.1.2 Draft requirements 1.2 Regional Strategies 1.2.1 Collect information 1.2.2 Draft requirements Task 2: [LOW PRIORITY]Identify current examples of strategies for ESM, both industry-led and Government, voluntary and mandatory. 2.1 Collect information 2.2 Draft report
Years 2013 2014 2015 Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (i) Identify actions and incentives that can be taken to promote environmentally sound reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling and material recovery of used and end-of life computing equipment through the implementation of the Partnership guidelines and existing certification schemes Task 3: Identifying options to overcome the barriers that prevent developing countries and countries with economies in transition from implementing collection and take-back schemes as well as other strategic activities including incentive schemes (for example: voluntary, financial, regulatory, and administrative). Identifying options to overcome barriers to producers from starting up voluntary schemes in certain countries which would help to determine what incentives/support could be provided; for example geographical challenges, ensuring level playing field to producers, economic viability, lack of consumer demand, no viable end-use markets, etc 3.1 Countries 3.1.1 Collect information 3.1.2 Identify options 3.1.3 Draft report 3.2 Producers 3.2.1 Collect information 3.2.2 Identify options 3.2.3 Draft report
Years 2013 2014 2015 Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (j) Assess the possibility of using facility certification as a tool for assuring the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life computing equipment In carrying out this activity the Project Group will collaborate with the Basel Convention s Technical Expert Group (TEG) on ESM on the certification issues to prevent duplication of effort and ensure the outcomes are aligned, and with the Secretariat of the "Solving the E-Waste Problem" (StEP) Initiative, hosted by the United Nations University, on their development of Standards for Collection, Storage, Transport and Treatment of E-waste: Principles, Requirements and Conformity Assessment (StEP's Green Paper). Task 4: Identify and make publicly accessible information on existing certification schemes, possible use of Ad Interim Group report on ESM criteria recommendations as a start. Collect information on existing certification schemes, an assessment of the extent to which they are currently used, and the elements that appear common in the establishment of credible and reliable programs. Key items to be explored could include: - What are the key steps to get certified? - Gather links to information/databases of certifications and registrations regarding handling of used and end-of-life computing equipment under various schemes. - What are the key components or elements that are present in widely recognized guidelines and certification schemes? - Are the existing standards used to certify facility ESM practices compatible with PACE guidelines? - How are governments, NGOs and industry using facility certification mechanisms now? - How could certification schemes be used in the future to ensure ESM and also guide decisions on TBM approvals by governments? 4.1 Gather links 4.2 Make assessment 4.3 Draft report Task 5: Delivery of findings, conclusions and recommendations to the PACE Working Group 5.1