SOUTH AFRICA – Weak regulations around e-waste collection and recycling practices pose a significant threat to South Africa’s e-waste reduction initiatives, says Patricia Schröder, Circular Energy spokesperson.
South Africa produces around 360,000 tonnes of e-waste every year, with Gauteng accounting for 55% of that volume, according to the Gauteng government’s website.
According to her, legitimate efforts to contain a runaway e-waste problem are being undermined by unscrupulous actors who engage in processing e-waste that is hazardous to humans and the environment for profit’s sake.
She points out that fake e-waste service providers and/or informal workers may resort to brute-force salvaging instead of correctly disposing of or recycling products. This approach does not resolve the issue of illegal disposal of e-waste.
“Unfortunately, they are more interested in extracting valuable components for resale or maximizing profits through second-rate recycling than health, safety and protecting the environment,” highlights Schröder.
Unhindered by strict controls, vendors may resort to openly burning waste or the quick dismantling of appliances, resulting in unwanted materials being discarded recklessly and often resulting in the release of harmful toxins, such as lead, mercury and cadmium into the air, soil and water supplies.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is in the process of developing a national e-waste policy.
A draft policy has been published and is currently out for comment. It falls under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and is called the National Policy: Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
After the waste industry’s review and inputs have been submitted, the draft WEEE Policy document will be finalized, says Schröder.
The dearth of stringent regulations makes it critical that government and industry stakeholders collaborate on legislation and standards that establish ethical industry practices, formal operational controls and strict skills requirements.
However, regulations alone will not be enough, with Schröder acknowledging that informal and unregulated vendors gain an unfair competitive advantage over legitimate operators because technically- sound collection and recycling are inherently slower and pricier, and formal companies are obliged to implement accepted safety standards and controls.
She added that consumers need to be better educated on how to properly dispose of their appliances if the country is to avoid an environmental catastrophe.
“Firstly, formal e-waste management companies need to collaborate to find ways to educate the public on responsible e-waste disposal and recycling, as well as what to look for in a qualified service provider,” she concluded.
