By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Australian Government have launched a new
project aimed at establishing a circular economy approach to electronic waste
management across Pacific countries.
The project, titled
“Creating a Circular Economy for Electronics in the Pacific,” was launched
during the Regional Development Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RDF-ASP) 2026
in partnership with the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA).
The initiative will leverage
ITU’s global network and bring together regional and national stakeholders to
develop approaches to e-waste management tailored to the Pacific’s geographic
and environmental conditions.
The project will focus on
raising awareness and strengthening knowledge about electronic waste,
supporting the development of policies and regulations, and providing practical
guidance to improve sustainable e-waste management practices.
The initiative comes as
Pacific countries face particular challenges in managing electronic waste
because of their geographic characteristics and environmental vulnerabilities.
ITU said the project will
build on lessons and approaches developed through a recently concluded e-waste
management project in Thailand and Mongolia, adapting relevant experiences to
the Pacific context.
The initiative is expected
to strengthen regional cooperation and support countries in developing more
sustainable systems for managing electronic waste as digital technologies and
electronic devices become increasingly widespread.
Through the partnership, ITU
and the Australian Government aim to advance sustainable digital transformation
while supporting the development of a more circular and environmentally
responsible electronics ecosystem across the Pacific.
