Annually, a Moldovans citizen generates on average 4 kg of electrical and electronic waste or E-waste, according to an international study. For comparison, the largest electronic waste is generated in Norway, 28.3 kg per capita during a year. Each American generates 20 kg of E-waste, while for the EU residents this figure is 17.7 kg annually on average. On the other hand, the smallest quantity of electronic waste is thrown in Niger, only 400 gr/year, in Ethiopia, 500 gr/year, in Afghanistan and Uganda, 600 gr/year, IPN reports.

Vitalie Rusu, president of the Waste Collection and Processing Employers Association Colectez.eu, said the low figure of E-waste in the Republic of Moldova is due to the lack of education in waste management. The largest part of the used electronic and electrical equipment is thrown to the common waste dump without being recycled. Moldova only started to develop the E-waste recycling industry.

In the country, there are no recyclers that would process E-waste. This waste is taken for recycling to the neighing states or the EU member states. In Moldova, there are yet no E-waste recycling plants owing to the high costs of maintaining such enterprises against the size of the population and the small quantities of generated waste.

Experts say some of the substances found in E-waste can seriously affect health if they are thrown to the landfill. The fireproof substances used to reduce the inflammability of equipment can generate memory disorders and can affect the thyroid gland and the whole hormonal system. The Freon affects the layer of ozone and contributes to global warming.

Ina Coșeru, director of the National Environmental Center, said the used energy saving lamps that contain mercury should be taken to a center for the management of hazardous waste, but such centers do not exist in Moldova now even if a Government decision provides for the creation of such a center. The local public authorities should provide places where business entities could store electrical and electronic waste and other type of waste, such as used oils and batteries.

 “There is no such cooperation at present. In all the settlements of Moldova, including Chisinau, the waste is not appropriately managed and the separate collection of different types of waste is not ensured,” stated Ina Coșeru.