(In-)formal collection of e-waste - The central Europe project “TransWaste”

Informal waste collection and transboundary shipment activities of waste are not only a phenomenon of developing countries, member states of the European Union are affected as well. Waste, among others bulky waste, e-waste, scrap metals and used textiles, are favoured objects to be taken from informal collectors, often belonging to the minority group of the Roma people. Their origins are countries of the Central and Eastern European region with a less developed waste management system. EU member states with an established waste collection system are affected by losses of important secondary raw materials. The Central Europe project TransWaste aims at integrating the informal collectors in a socio-economic pilot project to achieve a win-win situation for all parties involved.