Europe’s electronic waste is now Africa’s burden

E-waste is a global problem. It includes computers, electronic goods, and electrical equipment. In 2011, 41.5m tonnes worth of electrical equipment was thrown away in the world. This is expected to increase to 93.5m tons by 2016. It is important to be aware that electronic consumer products are toxic waste. CRT monitors and old-style TVs are contaminated with lead and phosphorous, while printed circuit boards have arsenic and mercury, and refrigerators contain CFCs. These toxins, whether they are buried in landfills, improperly broken down, or burned, can leach into the soil or water table and cause a health crisis.

E-waste also contains small amounts of precious metals of high quality, such as gold, palladium, and copper. Junk electronics are a valuable raw material, even though they’re thrown out in the West. This is especially true in developing countries.

The Waste Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) in the EU regulate how e-waste is treated and processed and restrict where it may be exported. Only re-use is allowed for equipment that has been shipped to non-OECD countries (i.e., developing). The equipment must be fully functional and packaged so they don’t get damaged during transport. Otherwise, they will be classified as waste. Illegal exports to Africa and Asia are a major concern.

A large number of repairers in Lagos, Nigeria, means that there is little concern about whether an item has been tested or not. Equipment that is shipped untested here is classified as e-waste and is illegally sold in Lagos. The item could have been hidden in a container behind other things, inside a vehicle, or misrepresented as a personal object. E-waste in many developing countries is not treated with the same standards as in developed countries. This can lead to hazardous chemicals being released into the environment and people.

Even so, the efforts to curb the e-waste industry have been successful. In 2005, it was estimated that 75% of electrical and electronic products imported to Lagos were junk. E-waste accounted for only 12.5% of 2009 shipments. In 2011, 70% of the electronics imported to Lagos were second-hand, and only 15% were not repairable. These are estimates, but they do show a clear downward trend. This is due to the efforts made by regulators around the world.

The steady decline in e-waste shipments to Africa is a testament to the effectiveness of the controls, including the Basel Convention, which regulates the movement of hazardous materials; the Bamako Convention, signed by a number of African nations as an agreement, and Regulations for Transfrontier Shipment of Waste. Basel was an international convention that was set up to prevent developed countries from “dumping” waste onto developing countries. However, many African nations felt this didn’t go far enough, so the Bamako Convention came into being to protect African nations. The effectiveness of legislation alone is difficult to assess. Still, the countries that receive eWaste have become more aware, and Kenya and Nigeria now have their regulations that require importers to register to be scrutinized.

The importance of e-waste exported legally, which is at the end of its life cycle, is often overlooked. The majority of e-waste is disposed of in developing countries. By 2030, it is estimated that developing countries will discard around 200-300m obsolete computers per year.

For the African continent to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for education and sustainable development, everyone must have access to information technology. In some African nations, 80-90% cannot afford to purchase new equipment. There is, therefore, a great demand for second-hand quality goods that can be bought for a fraction of the cost. The ability of developing nations to meet the Millennium Development Goals will be significantly affected if the UK and other countries ban the export of used electronics to Africa. The issue is not the origin of the equipment but the lack of infrastructure for e-waste collection, recycling, and controls in developing countries.

The E-waste Solutions Alliance for Africa, a collaboration between Dell, HP Nokia, Phillips, and Reclaimed Appliances, demonstrates the importance of finding a solution. The alliance has worked with governments, regulators, and others to develop regulations, guidelines, and infrastructure. This creates a climate that is attractive to recyclers. East African Compliance Recycling will launch a full-scale e-waste recycler in Nairobi, Kenya, later this year. This plant can be replicated throughout Africa. This plant will be a sustainable way to recycle e-waste from any source, recover valuable materials, and create jobs while protecting the environment and human safety.