The mountain of electronic waste we throw out each year is growing. In fact, since 2010, it has grown five times faster than corresponding compliant collection and recycling systems.
As discarded items collect in our landfills, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, hexavalent chromium, and flame retardants that emit toxic dioxin when burned—create significant pollution and degradation of air, water quality, and soil contamination. The mechanical breakdown of plastic components also releases microplastic particles. The whole mess contributes to global warming. The picture is bleak. So, what now?
South African Electronic Waste Management
With so little information available to consumers about what to do with outdated tech, many people don’t know what they are supposed to do with their old cell phones, laptops, and TVs. Usually, the decision depends on whether the device is in working order or not. If it still works, many times, it gets passed onto other family members or friends or donated to charity. If it doesn’t work anymore, it gets chucked in the bin.
Consumers are not aware that South Africa has specific laws for disposing of electronic waste, covered under the National Environmental Management Waste Act 59 of 2008, the National Environmental Management Act of 1988, and the 2020 National Waste Strategy.
Patricia Schröder, the vice-chair of the central branch of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa, told Mail and Guardian, as reported by Marcia Zali on 18 October 2021, that the regulations would drive consumer awareness, benefit the environment, encourage innovation, and create jobs and skills development programmes. Are they doing the job? Perhaps.
Introduction Of Producer Responsibility Organisations
Barbara Creecy, the outgoing Minister of Forestry, Fisheries & Environmental Affairs, 2021, pushed through a novel regulation that expects electronics producers to be responsible for items from production to the very end of their life when they are ready to recycle. These regulations are called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It is hoped that these difficult-to-recycle products will be diverted from landfills and the financial burden of recycling them will be lifted from municipalities and taxpayers.
Electrical and electronic equipment producers are now required to register their operations with a registered EPR scheme. Producers must pay a levy to the coordinators of these schemes to ensure their waste is diverted from landfills and the environment. This includes collection and recycling initiatives. The funds generated from the EPR schemes are to be invested in collecting and recycling of materials.
This regulation burdened producers who have never had to worry about end-of-life problems their products create and have never done recycling. They are not equipped to deal with it, and I'm sure they don’t care about recycling.
With the introduction of this regulation came a new entity in the form of non-profit producer responsibility organisations (PROs) that coordinate the EPR schemes. These organisations contract to work with specific manufacturers and distribute the funds collected. To get paid, appointed collectors send reports on how much e-waste was collected for recycling. It seems like a sound system, but no entity to enforce these regulations has been established; therefore, it is open to abuse. Unless a body is formed that will oversee the PROs to enforce the rules, some people will always try to game the system and escalate the problem.
Collection Of Waste Electronic Equipment Is Problematic
South Africans are mostly afraid of throwing away the electronic devices they no longer use. Most of the time, owners keep and store these without entering the recycling process. Old laptops and cell phones lie around in their owners’ homes. People worry that their personal information will be stolen if they dispose of their devices. Or they think that their old devices still have value and don’t want to throw away something they can sell someday. The third reason why people hold onto their old tech is that they don’t know what to do with them and where to take them once they no longer use them.
Also, many people simply don't know about the importance of recycling e-waste. It is not well-known who collects electronic recycling. In 2023, Makro, a large electronic goods retailer, started a campaign to collect old and unused electronic devices from the public. In one way, the initiative was successful as 165 tons of waste electronic equipment was collected in 2 days from 13 196 individuals. On the other hand, the initiative fed the wrong perception that the old tech has value. It may make people hold onto their unused devices longer before they dump them because they are waiting for a chance to get compensated.
Also, there’s a gap in education regarding the environmental impacts of improper disposal. Unlike regular recycling, e-waste recycling requires specialised facilities to collect, sort, and process electronic devices. South Africa lacks sufficient infrastructure to manage this waste effectively, and only a small fraction—approximately 12%—of e-waste is formally recycled in South Africa.
For the informal sector, the possibility of recovering copper, iron, and gold metals from discarded electronic equipment seemed like a great way to make an income. However, modern devices contain fewer metal components compared to the older models. This automatically means that to make a living, the informal waste picker needs to collect a higher number of machines to strip. While dismantling, the worker gets exposed to toxic materials like mercury gas enclosed in the screens and released when the glass breaks. Toxins like arsenic, cadmium, selenium, and hexavalent chromium are also contained in electronic components. Once all the components are recovered from each case, they usually discard or burn them in an open fire pit. Flame retardants that create dioxin emissions are released into the air. Continuous exposure to these substances makes the waste pickers sick, not to mention the pollution it creates in the nearby air, soil, and water sources.
Proper Way To Dispose Of Your Electronic Devices
Formalising e-waste management is the most efficient and environmentally sound way to treat it. Collection points should be established, and venues must be communicated to the public for easy drop-off. Once collected, the e-waste should be transported to specialised treatment facilities to recover valuable metals while managing the toxic substances, with any residuals incinerated or disposed of in controlled landfills.
In Port Elizabeth, you can recycle your electronics at Incredible Connection stores. Your devices will be documented, and the safe disposal process will begin.
As a consumer, you can help by researching brands that prioritise sustainability and offer buy-back programs or take-back initiatives before buying new tech. Look for local drop-off points for e-waste. Know where to take your old electronics, whether to a recycling centre or a charity that accepts tech donations. You can also get involved in local campaigns or initiatives focused on e-waste recycling. Volunteer time or spread the word; every little bit helps.
To Sum Up
E-waste recycling may still be in its infancy in South Africa, but there’s a growing movement for change. While issues like lack of awareness, infrastructure, and regulations are challenges to overcome, there is hope; solutions are taking root nationwide. By staying informed and actively participating in recycling initiatives, you can play a key role in shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. So next time you’re about to toss that old phone away, think twice — you might just be making a difference! Let’s work together to ensure our e-waste goes from landfill to recycling bin, one gadget at a time!
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