Both the formal and informal sectors participate in the collection of e-waste in China. Because there is
relatively little environmental impact associated with the collection of e-waste, the central government
has not explicitly banned informal sector involvement in e-waste collection. Most collection activities are
carried out in urban areas because of their high population density and large volumes of broken, obsolete
and discarded Electrical and Electronic Equipment available for collection. E-waste collectors and collection systems currently have very little presence in rural areas because home appliances were only introduced on a broad scale in
many rural areas in the recent 10-15 years, so the rate of obsolescence is still low. In the meantime, due
to relatively low penetration rate of home appliances and slow replacement for new technologies, it
would take time for the equipment in the rural areas to become e-waste in large quantities.