When e-waste is burned, dumped into the environment, or improperly recycled, it releases chemicals, including lead.
This week was International Electronic Waste Day, a day that is generally little publicized and little known. Electronic waste is anything that has a battery or plug, and includes everything from household appliances and mobile phones to medical equipment and computers.
E-waste contains various toxic chemicals and is considered to pose a danger to humans and the environment.
The global consensus is that approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste is generated every year. This equates to approximately 10 million elephants or 1.55 million 40-ton trucks lining the equator.
This number is expected to increase to 82 million tonnes by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “only 22.3% is officially recorded as being collected and recycled.”
When e-waste is burned, dumped into the environment, or improperly recycled, it releases chemicals, including lead.
WHO believes that women and children, as well as informal recyclers, are most at risk of exposure. People working in the industrial waste sector are also particularly at risk.
Urgent intervention is needed and the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment believes that this problem can be addressed through legislative and regulatory measures. “The ministry is currently considering comments received from the public on the draft National Management Policy for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, which came into force in 1992, monitors the movement of waste to prevent countries from shipping it to other countries.
In 2019, plastic waste was included, and in 2006, e-waste was also included.
Much of the waste often ends up in African countries, which struggle to recycle it, with recycling rates of less than 1%, according to the world's e-waste watchdog.
Some solutions include trade-in programs that allow people to buy old electronics at a discount, extending their lifespan and slowing the rate of disposal.
Companies should partner with companies that recycle e-waste. Regulations need to be in place to ensure that companies do not dump e-waste and ensure that it is recycled and used again.
Colin Williamson of Regener8 Group said: “By making refurbished technology more widely available at a fraction of the cost of new devices, we can close South Africa's digital divide. It can help you secure a job, start and run your own business, and have a huge ripple effect. [as well as] Contribute to the future development of this country's economy. ”
The ministry's draft national policy on waste electrical and electronic equipment management, released for public comment in June, calls for strengthening the Extended Producer Responsibility Act. Mr Williamson said he was calling on electronics manufacturers to “register with the government and develop end-of-life management plans for their technology”.
National Environmental Management: Based on the Waste Law, the Ministry has prohibited the disposal of e-waste in landfills from 2021.
Companies are taking steps to recycle e-waste. For example, Massmart partners with e-waste recycling companies to break down products into components that can be reused and recycled. Massmart said it has expanded its e-waste collection facilities through its subsidiary Builders Warehouse to ensure this waste is reused and recycled.
Other examples include bringing solar kits to life on the continent. Research by the University of New South Wales and UK charity SolarAid found that “almost all (90%) off-grid retailers already offer some type of repair service as part of their operations”.
“Meanwhile, 69% identified improved access to spare parts as the biggest opportunity to improve repair services.”
Retailer Pick n Pay has partnered with EWaste Africa and the Electronic Waste Recycling Authority to build a facility where e-waste can be recycled.
“Through our recent campaign, it became clear that South Africans are hoarding e-waste. Our partnership with one of the country's largest retailers is a great way to improve waste management and help people, the planet and and will strengthen infrastructure for responsible citizens with a purpose,” said Ashley du Prouis, Chief Executive of the Electronic Waste Recycling Authority, in a statement.
Mobile phones are a major component of e-waste and contain precious metals that can be recycled. This includes gold, silver, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, cobalt, aluminum, and lithium. And plastic. These can be recycled and reused in some way.
The theme for this year’s International E-Waste Day was “Join the E-Waste Hunt – Collect, Recycle and Revive.” The aim was to get people to dispose of their e-waste at collection centers for recycling.
There are various supermarkets and collection points across the country where you can bring your e-waste for safe disposal.
