Management of Electronic Waste in Africa

Abstract

The issue of WEEE (usually called e-waste) is of growing concern across the whole of Africa. Increases in the use of personal computers, mobile phones and other electrical and electronic equipment has caused a subsequent rise in the disposal of end of life products in a continent where infrastructure for the environmentally sound treatment is scarce. This chapter reviews the current situation across the continent of Africa investigating the impacts of the rise in WEEE. The issue of illegal importation and the demand for second hand items is considered. Data for Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa are considered as these countries are all taking concrete steps to address and embed environmentally sound management of WEEE in their legislation and practices. A number of legislative drivers such as the Basel and Bamako Conventions are outlined as these are key drivers for reducing the import and impacts of WEEE in Africa. It is widely acknowledged, in a number of studies, that improper management of WEEE has serious health and environmental impacts. The deleterious effects on people working in the sector are described along with the deterioration in the environment and potential long term concerns if current practices are not improved. The scale of the problem is not to be underestimated but there is hope for the future, with a range of initiatives and projects bringing about change. A number of potential solutions are described such as Best of Two Worlds, an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) model for the future and industrial recycling solutions. Finally, concrete recommendations for the widespread adoption of environmentally sound management of WEEE across Africa are provided.