The Status of Electronic Waste in Iran

Background: The present study aimed to estimate the flow of electronic waste (e-waste) in Iran in order to establish a baseline for these toxic, potentially valuable wastes. Methods: Questionnaires were prepared to determine the amount of waste produced by households, institutions, repair centers, and importers and sellers of electronic products. In total, 22 electronic products (e-products) were tracked and classified into several categories, including computers, televisions, batteries, CD/DVDs, computer peripherals, telephones, multimedia players, and recorders. The questionnaires were completed in Tehran, Mashhad, Sanandaj, and Zanjan cities, Iran. In total, 860 questionnaires were completed via face-to-face interviews. The results were generalized to the entire country so as to estimate the level of e-waste. Results: In 2012, the amount of e-waste in Iran was 288,000 tons, which was estimated to reach 444 million tons by 2032. This translates to an estimated annual e-waste per capita of 5.37 kilograms, which is lower than the current global value (7.2 kilograms). In addition, the findings indicated that technological innovation and market expansion accelerate the replacement of equipment, thereby significantly increasing e-waste. Conclusion: According to the results, the management of e-waste requires proper infrastructures to avert a crisis in e-waste management in Iran.