Mapping Electronic Waste Flows in Depok, West Java

Abstract

Abstract Electronic waste (e-waste) is a relatively new issue in Indonesia. Policies and regulations regarding electronic waste in Indonesia are still under development and preparation. Also, the physical presence of electronic waste, except used batteries, is not managed yet, especially in the waste management chain. In some regions, especially in Java, the recovery and the handling of electronic waste such as demolition, separation of parts, old product restoration, and metal recovery are carried out by the informal sector. The informal sector handles almost 90% of the total waste produced, mainly from households, offices, commercial areas, recovery materials, and reconditioned products. Nevertheless, e-waste was not commonly found in public landfills, indicative of its valued nature. Previous studies have figured out that e-waste is flowing through several informal processes with rudimentary technology. This study aimed to understand the role of formal and informal actors in the flow and fate of e-waste in Depok, as well as how various actors interacted and differentially benefited from these flows. The results indicated that informal actors were the predominant force in the collection and sorting of e-waste from households. This research suggests that informal actors, who play such an essential role in the current system, should be incorporated into any new regulatory and management schemes, as is currently being developed by the Indonesian government.