Officials from Taiwan, the U.S. and seven other countries launch International E-waste Management Network Workshop Dec. 2 in Bangkok. (Courtesy of EPA)
 

The International E-waste Management Network Workshop kicked off Dec. 2 in Bangkok, underscoring the commitment of co-hosts Taiwan and the U.S. to building global capacity while promoting U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030.
 
Organized by the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three-day workshop involves more than 50 experts and officials from nine countries.
 
Participants are expected to discuss the latest industry trends, outline respective policymaking initiatives and share best practices. One highly anticipated event on the schedule is the introduction of a groundbreaking e-waste reverse logistics system by a delegation from Brazil.
 
According to Taiwan’s EPA, the workshop is a blue-ribbon platform for the government to share its experiences and know-how with like-minded partners. It also augurs well for further promoting cooperation and exchanges across the region, the EPA said.
 
Taiwan is a global leader in recycling and employs some of the most advanced and innovative approaches to e-waste management, the EPA said. The country is also widely considered an “international poster child” in recycling as per an article published May 17, 2016, by The Wall Street Journal, the EPA added.
 
First held in 2011, the ninth edition of the workshop is staged under the International Environmental Partnership jointly founded by the agency and its U.S. counterpart in 2014.
 
IEP advances collaboration among participating countries on key environmental issues such as mercury monitoring, recycling of electronic devices and remediation of contaminated sites. (SFC-E)