Several countries have launched several programs to achieve the environmentally sound management (ESM) of e-waste. However, various challenges hamper the success and effectiveness of these programs. A lack of infrastructure and financial resources are the major challenges faced by countries while complying with the requirements stated under such programs. Identifying relevant players and encouraging cooperation are the keys to addressing these difficulties. Collecting, sorting and disassembly, and end-processing are the three stages of e-waste recycling. These procedures are conducted by informal garbage recycling businesses in several countries, lacking expertise and professional treatment. The formal e-waste recycling sector is severely limited in these countries. The informal sector could handle the first two steps of e-waste recycling with minimal environmental and health consequences. However, if it performs the end-processing, it could significantly degrade the surrounding environment. The social, environmental, and economic boundaries are the major factor of concern while transferring standard technology to countries across the region. Moreover, the informal sector's dominance and success must be considered before commencing such technology transfer to these countries. The key to a successful e-waste management program is innovative models that allow the informal sector to adopt safe recycling methods. On the other hand, hazardous operations are also outsourced to professional recycling recyclers. The need to emphasize encouraging the informal sector to increase the e-waste collection and pre-processing efforts through training and technology transfer is expected to create enormous opportunities for the e-scrap recycling market players. Several countries are likely to adopt a well-defined national e-waste management policy based on circular economic concepts as a path forward. This strategy aims to address the present environmental and health implications of e-waste, along with focusing on reducing e-waste through green design practices. The strategies adopted by the governments of the respective countries should make it easier for the private sector to build business and economic prospects for recycling materials from e-waste. The strategy should consider the country's financial, institutional, political, and social dimensions, focusing on how to combine the informal and formal e-waste recycling sectors.
With the new features and technologies, vendors can attract new customers and expand their footprints in emerging markets. This factor is likely to drive the APAC e-scrap recycling market in the coming years. The market is expected to grow at a good CAGR during the forecast period.
The APAC e-scrap recycling market is segmented based on product type, processed material and country. Based on product type, the market is segmented into IT & telecom equipment, small household appliances, large white goods, consumer electronics, and others. The large white goods segment dominated the market in 2020 and consumer electronics segment is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. Based on processed material, the market is segmented into metal, glass, plastic, and others. The metal segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. Based on country, the APAC e-scrap recycling market is segmented into China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the rest of APAC. DOWA HOLDINGS CO., LTD; Ecoreco ltd; Enviro-Hub Holdings Ltd; JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation; Sims Metal Management Ltd; Stena Metall Ab; Tetronics; and Umicore are among the leading companies in the APAC e-scrap recycling market.