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Disposal of e-waste a challenge for SA

30th October 2020

By: Creamer Media Reporter

     

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In this opinion piece, Victor Namavhela laments the minimal action being taken worldwide to recycle electronic waste and predicts that increased quantities of this type of waste will be generated as the Fourth Industrial Revolution progresses

The world commemorated International Electronic Waste (e-waste) Day on October 14. But it is sad that there has been minimal action to address the challenge of disposing of this waste, even though some good papers and knowledge on the subject have been shared across the globe. In 2012, it was estimated that about 41-million tonnes of e-waste was produced, with a projection of over 50-million tonnes by 2019 and a further 120-million-plus tonnes by 2050.

In the South African context, in particular, there are several initiatives and recyclers of e-waste, but a lot still needs to be done to deal with the challenge that e-waste poses to the environment and ensure the wellbeing of society at large.

According to the e-Waste Association of South Africa, this country generates about 6.2 kg of e-waste per person every year, and only 12% of that is recycled. Globally, only 20% of the e-waste that is produced is formally recycled.

It is important to note that e-waste is either toxic or hazardous and needs to be handled as such, in accordance with local and national waste management legislation; the upside is that e-waste presents an opportunity for business through the recovery of precious metals and other valuable components.

Besides the current lifestyle and business approach or development, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is also contributing to an increase in the quantity of e-waste that is generated. The 4IR will increase the consumption of electronic gadgets, which will result in greater volumes of e-waste.

To bring the point home, let’s look at the cellphone, for example. The cellphone has become a basic means of communication, with 80% of the population owning at least one phone, if not two. What happens when the phone is old or breaks beyond repair? It finds a home in your drawer or becomes a toy for the children.

The fact is that the majority of these items remain in our households, as there is no option to recycle or safely dispose of them. Most of us have heard of the recycling of e-waste, but there are few facilities or drop-off centres we can point to in this country.

On the legislative landscape, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach is making strides in dealing with e-waste. The EPR allows the producers to look at their product after consumption and put measures in place to recover and ensure sustainable disposal into other resource needs. Looking at the cellphone again, there are only one or two cellphone companies that accept the trade-in of their products. This applies mostly when someone is buying a new cellphone. The challenge remains that 70% of the cellphone market does not have similar policies. But even where brands allow returns of their products, there is not enough visibility, advocacy and awareness of that option.

In the rural-province context, e-waste does not necessarily end up in landfill facilities in large quantities, but is disposed of in the environment, owing to the absence of waste collection services.

The challenge presented by e-waste to the environment is likely to worsen if no action is taken. This calls for the collectors and recyclers to not shy away from the space of e-waste solutions. A call is also extended to the competent authorities within this space at all levels – national, provincial and local – to coordinate the development of infrastructure for e-waste management and also make the environment conducive for role-players to participate in bringing about solutions. This call is also extended to electronic products manufacturers to start taking action to ensure that their products are not contributing to the problem. Through the EPR, manufacturers should be able to make infrastructures accessible and effective in dealing with e-waste.

The Industrial Symbiosis Programme is available to be the vehicle between the solutions and points of collections of e-waste, as it continues to facilitate the exchange of waste. Through this platform, a considerable positive impact can be achieved by linking the ‘have’ and the ‘want’ of the e-waste to bring about sustainable solutions.

Without action-focused intervention, the commemoration, research papers and awareness remain a tick in the box. The community and society at large want to know where to take e-waste at a glance.

 

Manavhela is the National Cleaner Production Centre – South Africa regional manager for Gauteng. He also actively leads the implementation of industrial symbiosis in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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