Cartoon Network Africa inspires youngsters to take on e-waste

SOUTH AFRICA – Cartoon Network Africa has launched the Climate Champions initiative to empower South African children to make responsible recycling choices.

Through this program, children engage in challenges and quizzes to learn about e-waste recycling. E-waste, or electronic waste, includes devices like cellphones, laptops, TVs, and smaller items such as earbuds and chargers.

According to the recent 2024 Global E-waste Monitor report, South Africa generates the second-most e-waste in Africa, trailing only Egypt.

Despite producing a staggering 527 million kilograms of electronic waste, the country formally documents and recycles only a mere 5%, highlighting severe shortcomings in its e-waste management practices.

The burning of electronic waste releases a toxic cocktail of chemicals into the atmosphere, contaminating the air and significantly damaging the environment.

This process degrades air quality and contributes to global climate change, making it one of the gravest consequences of improper e-waste disposal.

Additionally, when e-waste is carelessly disposed of in landfills, its toxic materials seep into the groundwater, contaminating the surrounding soil and ecosystems.

To help educate children about e-waste, Cartoon Network Africa partnered with the E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA), a producer responsibility organization (PRO) specializing in the country’s e-waste recycling and electronic waste management.

Ashley du Plooy, chief executive officer of ERA, sees young people as the ideal target audience for addressing the electronic waste problem.

“E-waste has a long history and a very long future. Collaborating with Cartoon Network helped us deliver our message to young minds,” he said.

One interactive challenge in the Cartoon Network initiative is untangling wires, teaching children how to handle electronic waste safely without damaging the environment or the cables.

“In this activity, children must strategically solve the tangled mess without breaking wires. They learn the importance of responsible recycling and reducing electronic waste,” said Monika Oomen, vice president of brand for Cartoon Network Africa.

“For children, climate change is like a mountain to climb, and we help them take small steps, giving them guidance and small actions to address the issue,” Oomen told News24.

Last year, ERA ran its first significant public e-waste awareness campaign over two days. “We had almost 14,000 people participate and bring their e-waste to 20 collection points around the country,” Du Plooy said.

According to Du Plooy, the partnership with Cartoon Network Africa is critical for ERA.

The initiative also challenges children to locate electronic collection bins near them, teaching them the importance of recycling.

“For instance, another challenge requires them to count all the phones in their households, and they suddenly realize that they have a lot of old phones at home. We help them recognize the need to recycle responsibly,” said Oomen.

Oomen added that Climate Champions was created based on insights from children who expressed anxiety about climate change and a lack of understanding.

Climate Champions seeks to equip children with the skills and knowledge to become e-waste warriors in their homes and communities through fun and educational actions.

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