E-WASTE
INDUSTRY WELCOMES e-waste LANDFILL BAN Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream globally and poses serious environmental risks if mismanaged.
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ccording to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor, around 50 million tonnes of electronic products are discarded every year, with the global total likely to swell to 74.7 million tonnes by 2030. This makes it the world’s fastest growing domestic waste stream, fuelled mainly by more people buying electronic products with shorter life cycles and fewer options for repair.
The e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) reports that South Africa generates about 6.2 kg of e-waste per inhabitant annually and only 12% of that is recycled. It has therefore become extremely vital that measures are implemented to ensure that our e-waste is managed correctly and redirected away from landfill disposal and toward the beneficial reuse, recovery and recycling thereof.
Landfill ban on e-waste As of August 2021, all types of electrical and electronic equipment waste are prohibited from being disposed of at landfills across South Africa. This e-waste may only be recycled by licensed recycling facilities. Keith Anderson, CEO of eWASA, says the association welcomes any new legislation that will result in saving the environment. “We believe it’s high time to keep e-waste out of landfills, as well as other waste streams such as plastics, paper and lighting. It contains valuable resource materials as well as potentially hazardous substances,” he says. Giulio Airaga, managing director at Desco Electronic Recyclers, adds that this will help further existing efforts the industry has been implementing to divert e-waste. “We have been pushing for the responsible disposal of e-waste, irrespective of legislature; however, having this formalised will help
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