HP and partners tackle Africa e-waste problem

African countries lack legislative mechanisms to tackle the problem of electronic waste, according to a study by Hewlett-Packard, the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa).

"HP has a responsibility that starts with the design of a product and goes right through to its disposal, and we take that responsibility very seriously," said Klaus Hieronymi, director, Environmental Business Management, HP Europe Middle East and Africa.

The study found that Africa does not have legislation requiring electronic equipment manufacturers to contribute to recycling and harmless disposal of e-waste. The European Union has legislation requiring manufacturers to put in place e-waste disposal mechanisms.

The research was conducted in South Africa, Morocco and Kenya, and gathered information on how African governments, organizations and society are dealing with the rising problem of e-waste management, as well as possible solutions and test projects for the future.

"We see these projects in Africa as both providing employment opportunities for local communities and as a step towards a sustainable solution for tackling electronic waste in Africa," Hieronymi said.

"The research has shown that a solution is at hand and demonstrated some of the incredible entrepreneurial skills we can tap into in the informal sector in Africa," said Mathias Schluep, project manager and Empa researcher. "By providing tools and training we have removed potential environmental and health problems that can be caused by handling e-waste incorrectly."

A pilot project in Cape Town represented the main focus of this Africa-wide project, with encouraging results. The facility processed approximately 60 metric tons of electronic equipment, generated an income of about US$14,000 from February to November 2008 and created direct employment for 19 people. The project also seeks to incorporate informal processing activities that have proved highly effective in dealing with waste, by transforming them into sustainable and environmentally sound operations.

The e-waste project is expected to launch the second phase of the project, which aims at engaging corporate and government partners to further extend e-waste management programs to other countries and tackle the problem in the entire continent.

Though Kenya has environmental legislation, the study found that the National Environmental Management Act does not provide practical framework on e-waste management. According to the report, Kenya is producing 3,000 metric tons of e-waste per year, with an increase of 200 percent per year.

The DSF was formed after the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 and seeks to bridge the digital divide between developed and developing countries. The DSF has identified ICT as a vehicle for development.

"Information technology represents a real opportunity to boost the African economy, but the question of what we do with old equipment once it no longer works is an important one," said Cisse Kane from DSF. "This project has helped us move some way to closing the loop by providing a model for safe and efficient treatment and disposal of e-waste."

The study recommends that a mechanism to raise funds for the expensive process of e-waste be established, and that measures be taken to raise public awareness.