NAIROBI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- As the demand for electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, laptops and computers, grows in Africa, driven by rising middle-class incomes, the continent is grappling with a significant burden of electronic waste (e-waste).
Ahead of International E-Waste Day, observed globally every year on Oct. 14, experts have acknowledged that Africa's e-waste crisis is concerning and requires robust awareness campaigns and sound policy interventions.
David Onga're, director of compliance at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Kenya, said that the proliferation of second-hand phones and computers in Africa is exacerbating e-waste pollution, harming vital ecosystems such as watersheds.
Onga're said that international agreements, like the Basel Convention on the transboundary movement of waste, signed by many African countries, including Kenya, could help strengthen efforts to manage electronic waste on the continent.
According to Statista, an international data and business intelligence platform, Africa generated 3.6 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, up from 2.9 million metric tons in 2019. Countries with the highest levels of e-waste generation include Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, while many others lack formal systems for collecting and recycling discarded electronic devices.
Onga're said that Kenya is implementing e-waste management regulations and urging importers and manufacturers to take responsibility for electronic devices throughout their lifecycle.
"We expect key players like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance to address sustainable e-waste collection and recycling, protecting vulnerable groups from health hazards," Onga're said.
Kenya is a member of the Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Project, a World Bank-funded project, which includes a component aimed at reducing the continent's e-waste burden, he said.
"As a country, we advocate for a continental approach to e-waste management and are working to make the circular economy a reality," Onga're said, emphasizing that investing in supportive infrastructure is key to enhancing the collection and recycling of obsolete electronic devices across Africa.
Despite having the lowest per capita e-waste generation, at 2.5 kg annually in 2019, Africa is becoming a major destination for obsolete gadgets, such as smartphones and computers, from the developed world.
Improper handling and disposal of e-waste pose serious public health risks to communities living near urban landfills, as these discarded devices often contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury.
According to Statista, the continent was able to collect and recycle only 0.7 percent of its e-waste in 2022, though efforts to tackle the issue have started showing results.
The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 report indicates that 13 African countries have developed policy and legislative frameworks to improve e-waste management and mitigate its adverse effects on the environment and human health.
In an article published in June 2023, Richard Munang, the former deputy regional director for the United Nations Environment Program Africa Office, said that Africa is gradually turning e-waste into a source of economic opportunity.
"With innovative strategies, Africa is transforming what was once an environmental threat into a treasure trove of economic opportunities, especially for its growing youth population," Munang said.
He also said that countries including Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa have introduced regulations to identify key actors responsible for e-waste management.
Munang added that clearly defining value chain actors has ensured that manufacturers, importers and distributors uphold their responsibilities for the end-of-life management of electronic products.
Sustainable financing, strong partnerships with industry, and enforcement of laws have also improved e-waste management in Africa, fostering the growth of a circular economy that employs vulnerable urban youth.
"Africa can further solidify its e-waste management systems, create more jobs, and ensure a cleaner and safer environment for future generations," Munang said.
