By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines –While electronic waste in the Philippines remains low, environmental group Greenpeace warns that the lack of legislation against proper disposal and management of e-waste could have dire effects on the country’s ecology and human health in the future.

Due to the lack of proper legislation and take back initiatives from private companies selling computer equipment, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Toxic Waste Campaigner Beau Baconguis said the Philippines could suffer from an e-waste problem in the next five years.

She said the Philippines is also becoming host to many call centers and business process outsourcing companies that purchase and eventually replace computers after three to four years.

Baconguis said they have approached members of the House of Congress several times in the past years to lobby for an electronic waste law.

However, political upheavals and lack of understanding of the environmental issues related to e-waste among lawmakers placed proposed legislations in the backburner, she said.

“We’re just waiting for the right opportunity to talk to them about electronic waste and what can be done,” she said.

Greenpeace released the latest edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, which rated 18 electronics companies on their recycling programs and manufacturing processes that looks into their use of less toxic materials.

The new release added new criteria on energy efficiency, which now plays a part in the production of greenhouse gases.

The Greenpeace report showed that Japan firm Sony and its mobile phone subsidiary Sony Ericsson garnered a score of 5.1 out of 10 for phasing out toxic materials in their manufacturing processes and for creating products that have high energy efficiency ratings.

However, parent company Sony has no take back system for obsolete equipment and lacks proper recycling systems.

Nine other companies, including Nokia, Toshiba, Acer, HP, and Panasonic, scored four for “partially [having a] good take back programs, recycling of equipment and energy efficiency,” the report said.

Philips, LG and Microsoft are among the lowest scorers with either 2 or 3 for limited take back programs, recycling and power efficiency, the report said.

Kid-friendly Japanese gaming company Nintendo scored the lowest in the recent rating for having no after market sales support, recycling programs, detailed phase out of their use of toxic materials, and energy efficiency plans.

Baconguis said that some of the Philippines offices of the companies identified in their report are already following in the footsteps of their headquarters through buy-back programs of old equipment and also tapping third-party recycling firms.

“Other companies should follow these examples,” she said.