KENYA – Samsung Electronics East Africa has partnered with home appliances store Housewife’s Paradise to collect e-waste for recycling as part of a joint effort on environmental conservation.
The initiative is part of the eco-responsible approach adopted by the subsidiary of the South Korean company Samsung Electronics, which specializes in the manufacture of electronic products, to reduce pollution.
Under the e-waste management program, Housewife’s Paradise will collect Samsung brand-only e-waste at a customer’s preferred time and date.
The waste will then be delivered to WEEE Centre the official Samsung recycling partner in Kenya and then be discarded as per set global standards.
Secondary raw materials from the center will be sold to industry, according to the Kenyan company, which is acting as Samsung Electronics East Africa’s official recycling partner.
Through this initiative, the subsidiary of the South Korean company Samsung aims to reduce its impact on the environment, since toxic substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury, which are commonly used in the manufacture of electronic products, can contaminate the soil, water and air.
Mr. Ronald Mitei, Head of Service Division at Samsung said: “We have been dedicated to responsible e-waste management for the last few years and we now want to scale it up to ensure that we minimize any negative environmental impact of our products.
“This includes taking responsibility for the end-of-life phase of our products to prevent environmental harm. Our e-waste program and recycling program are an important part of this commitment.”
Mr. Zul Jamal, Managing Director of Housewife’s Paradise added: “As a responsible home appliance retailer, we understand the importance of proper e-waste disposal.
“It’s not just about selling new appliances; it is also about ensuring that the old ones are retired in a way that is safe for our environment.
“That is why we are devoted to providing our customers with easy access to responsible recycling options and encouraging the sustainable disposal of electronic products.”
The move comes after the Government of Kenya passed the Sustainable Waste Management Act,2022 that establishes the legal framework for the sustainable management of waste.
This would ideally require electronics manufacturing companies operating in Kenya to take responsibility for the pollution their products cause during their entire product life cycle.
According to the global e-waste monitor report of 2020, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste were produced each year.
If left unchecked, this could double to 120 million tonnes by 2050. Globally, only 17.4 percent of e-waste is managed appropriately.
Kenya’s annual electronic waste generation grew from 3,000 metric tonnes in 2012 to 51,000 metric tonnes in 2021.
In September 2022, Samsung Electronics announced its global environmental strategy, a comprehensive effort to join global endeavors in tackling climate change.
This environmental commitment encompasses an enterprise-wide application to enhance resource circularity throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to recycling and disposal.
The plan also details investments in new technologies to reduce emissions from processed gases as well as to reduce power consumption in consumer products.
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