Conference calls for improved management of E-waste in East African region

Nairobi, September 7 2010 – Actions to address the challenges but also seize the opportunities linked with growing levels of electronic waste (e-waste) will take centre stage at a conference at the United Nations complex in Nairobi, Kenya today.

Delegates from the Kenyan Environment Ministry and other government officials, representatives from the National Environment Management Authority, computer software giants Microsoft, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and industry, will chart a way forward in terms of re-use, recycling and refurbishment of electronic goods.

E-waste consists of old electronic items such as computers, printers, mobile phones, refrigerators and televisions. Increasing demand for electronic goods in Kenya and in the developing world means that levels of e-waste are growing fast and the hazardous substances such as heavy metals contained in most of these products are posing a serious risk to the environment and to human health. However, e-waste also presents an economic opportunity through the recycling and refurbishing of discarded electronic goods and the harvesting of the precious metals they contain.

Today's meeting is aimed at finalising guidelines on the management of e-waste en route to an amendment to Kenya's waste laws and regulations in order to minimize the impacts and maximize the benefits of growing numbers of electronic products manufactured in Kenya or imported into the country.

Giant software developer Microsoft, the National Environment Authority and the United Nations Environmental Program are now pressing calls for the urgent adoption of sound policies and clear guidelines on e-waste management in Kenya and the East African region.

Speaking at the National Stakeholders Workshop on Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (eWaste) Nairobi 2010, Microsoft’s Regional Education Manager East and Southern Africa Mr. Mark Matunga called for concerted efforts in e waste management, which has proved to be a challenge to many African countries.

“There is an urgent need for the government and other stakeholders from the private sector to work towards streamlining the management of e waste, especially in the wake of increased turnover of electronic equipment on the continent,” said Mr. Matunga.

“Kenya, like most Africa countries has no polices and strategies for dealing with e-waste and is therefore its population is greatly exposed   to   health hazards that are associated with e waste”. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is conducting extensive research on e-waste. UNEP launched a landmark report, Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources, in February 2010 that examined e-waste in 11 developing countries, including Kenya. A recent baseline study done in 2008 that showed Kenya generates 3,000 tons of electronic waste per year. The study predicts that the quantity is expected to increase as demand increases.

Internationally, China, India and Pakistan receive much of the world’s e-waste. Worldwide, e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year.    

UNEP also hosts the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Under the Basel Convention, inventories and national management plans are being developed in Africa to improve the collection, repair, refurbishment and recovery of e-waste.

Speaking at the workshop, UNEP Deputy Executive Director Angela Cropper spoke of the emerging global threats and opportunities provided by tackling the growing e-waste challenge. Acknowledging technology’s potential for assisting with infrastructure and overcoming knowledge barriers, she noted innovation and technology can also play a role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, green growth and assisting with climate change challenges.

However, given the increased pace of technological development and obsolescence, many appliances have a short life-expectancy and require sound re-use, recycling and disposal solutions. Dumping or improper recycling of electronic waste causes serious environmental contamination, and while electronic goods are mostly used in the developed world, many end up in developing countries.

"Raising recycling rates and re-using valuable metals and components, as well as increasing safe waste management and its regulation, is critical if countries and businesses are to transform mountains of e-waste into an asset”, said Ms. Cropper.

The workshop is set to chart a common way forward in dealing with e-waste management in line with Basel Convention Declaration and other International declarations.

National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) Director of Compliance, Mr. Benjamin Langwen in his remarks said “the government, through NEMA is working towards developing sound legislation and policy guidelines to help curb the hazard of e-waste. We see this workshop as an important step towards e waste regulation formulation.”

The National Stakeholders Workshop on Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (eWaste) Nairobi 2010 also discussed, among other key topics, the need to identify and map the environmental impact of e-waste on Kenya, capacity constraints hindering the disposal of e-waste in Kenya and the collection system and recycling infrastructure of e-waste.

The forum stressed the need by all stakeholders to adopt the recommendations and guidelines on e-waste management and a review of the Kenyan government’s own electronic waste disposal procedures.