Africa needs to develop e-waste regulations

In June this year, Kenya introduced a 25 percent tax on all imported used computers. The move attracted mixed reactions.

Some argued that the move was right because, to boost local innovation, Kenya needs to stop encouraging used computer dumping in the country. The Madaraka PC project was used as evidence that the government is committed to local production and did not need used computers.

The other group argued that Kenya cannot afford to derail importation of computers because we still had access issues. It was argued that the Madaraka PC project is a non starter and has not achieved much, even after two years of funding.

While the two arguments may hold true depending on the stakes, there is a genuine concern over e-waste dumping in Africa.

It took the U.K. press investigative reports on e-waste dumping in Ghana for the U.K. government to reexamine the regulations. The investigations revealed that some computers dumped in Ghana contained confidential patient information.

But the main question lies in regulations in Africa. Many of the countries do not have requirements on e-waste disposal and importation. Some countries do not have specifications on re-used computers that should be allowed.

For instance, in Kenya, the National Environmental Authority Act does not clearly define e-waste and how it should be disposed. The regulation is not exhaustive, which may be the case in many other countries.

By the time the countries wake up from the slumber, they may find a heap of waste in their backyard.

Are we supposed to press the home countries to employ more stringent regulations, or are we supposed to come up with stringent regulations to deal with e-waste? Africa needs to act and make necessary laws.