JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – e-Waste management and recycling took centre stage at the Green Business Platform meeting hosted by SOJO and KlipSA on May 9 at Thaba Ya Batswana.
Information Management & Design Consultant at e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWasa), Lene Ecroignard, was the guest speaker at the May meeting aimed to educate on electronic waste management.
The event was also to highlight the legal requirements for small businesses when managing their electronic waste and the exciting eWASA/ MINTEK urban mining partnership. One of the important questions that Lene Ecroignard addressed to a conference room full of curious attendees was: What is e-waste?
E-waste is a term for all the electronic and electrical equipment that is no longer useful in businesses or households. It is appliances such as computers, printers, stoves, cellphones, fridges etc. and has entered the waste stream. All appliances that have scrap value and are electronic items with power or battery supply.
Many would question why they should dispose of their once reliable toaster or any other electronic appliance which could still be fixed.
The answer is, these products quickly become obsolete/outdated and could be recycled in return for money. Instead of storing the goods in a dark cupboard with the intention of someday getting it fixed. Recycling is also a better option to dumping the appliance at a landfill.
Methods used by the Electronics industry to persuade consumers to replace functioning appliances and gadgets are through upgrades i.e. cellphone and software upgrades. According to www.electronicstakeback.com Microsoft’s release of the VISTA operating system alone caused a spike in the e-waste stream.
Other listed industry methods used are: Changing the battery; which can be challenging with some products that require a consumer to take the product back to the manufacturer for a new battery, such as Apple products. This service often comes at a hefty fee.
Introducing new technology also compels the consumer to change functioning appliances to get the latest technology. We have seen people getting rid of normal television sets and upgrading to digital TV and High Definition TV’s (HDTV).
What is the problem with e-waste?
The problem with e-waste in South Africa and around the world is that consumers often discard these electronic appliances in public surroundings. Disposers of this material do not take into consideration the harmful effects these hazardous items have on the environment and on human health.
This is one of the issues concerning e-waste that Lene Ecroignard works hard to address, educating consumers on how to dispose of electronic waste in a manner that doesn’t compromise the environment or any human being.
How can small businesses and residents efficiently manage and recycle e-waste?
Most e-waste is disposed of at landfills and most recyclers opt not to recycle, but to export large amounts of e-waste to waste traders. Collectors often ship it overseas for dismantling.
This is a major e-waste problem as this waste is processed under unregulated conditions, resulting in air pollution with hazardous toxins, poisoning people and contaminating water streams.
Lene Ecroignard said that both companies and households have a responsibility to ensure that their electronic waste is disposed of safely. “If you give me your e-waste, you have to be sure it’s recycled.”
She also noted that companies that bring e-waste into the country are responsible for it and have to take it back. Guiding principles listed by Lene include responsibility, reliability, simplicity and liquidity.
Solutions to e-waste by Ecroignard are: reducing your consumption of electronic products, to “use less in the first place.” She recommends that consumers ask themselves before making purchases whether they really need that extra smartphone.
Recycle products when you can no longer use them.
Repair and re-use appliances instead of always buying new ones with less life cycle.
Check for local certified collection points and take your recyclables there. In South Africa, local collection initiatives are by Mass Mart and Pick n Pay to name a few.
