UJ and Gauteng government take on e-waste

As promised in the State of the Province Address on February 21, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) launched the e-waste project aimed at protecting the environment and creating economic opportunities for youths.

On March 1 the university and the Gauteng Department of e-Government unveiled the newly established Gauteng e-Waste Management System to tackle the province’s mounting e-waste.

According to a statement released by UJ, the e-Waste Management System is being implemented as a solution to help improve the collection, recycling, and safe disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) in the province.

Deputy vice-chancellor of research and internationalisation Professor Saurabh Sinha stated, “This collaboration is envisioned to unlock solutions that not only address issues such as e-waste but also create a value chain that speaks to SMMEs and the informal sector through the creation of a circular economy.”

The aim of the project is to achieve a sustainable e-waste management solution that will ensure a clean, healthy and safe environment. Nickey Janse van Rensburg of UJ’s process, energy and environmental technology station explained, “e-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams and it is actually quite hazardous. What Gauteng province is trying to achieve is to have a strategy to manage and deal with e-waste. At UJ we have partnered with eGov to help develop the strategy, bringing them into contact with experts from various institutions and agencies.”

They will also be working with other agencies to support development and training, designing short learning programmes that will stretch across the entire value chain of what is required in terms of legislation and linking it to the economy.

The province has experienced an accumulation of e-waste, caused by the high use of technological products such as home appliances, mobile phones, computers and other such products by residents. Additionally, South Africa experiences about 360 000 tonnes of e-waste each year and Gauteng accounts for about 55% of the national e-waste quantities according to UJ.

Makhura expressed how rapid technological change empowered people and changed their quality of life. He voiced how important it was to have digital inclusion, so no one is left behind.

“This mounting e-waste problem is an opportunity for us to bring in new players to deal with the environmental problem by having a different approach to it and bringing in young people.”