CC image courtesy of Curtis Palmer on Flickr
Kenya’s e-waste disposal problems are set to be addressed with UK-based East African Compliance Recycling Company (EACR) set to launch a production plant in Nairobi in which it will facilitate the buying of wasted electronic appliances from next month.
EACR will be operating Kenya’s first e-waste recycling facility complying with international health, safety and environmental standards.
It will establish a local, sustainable IT e-waste recycling industry and is set to inject KSn2 billion (US$23 million) into the business.
The European Environment Agency and United Nations Environment Programme estimates that 40-50 million tonnes of electrical equipment waste are produced each year globally.
That number is increasing three times faster than all other types of domestic waste.
“Across Africa, the technology market is predicted to grow by over 8 per cent a year for the next three years,” said Kirstie McIntyre, head of environmental compliance.
“This is great news for the region, but comes at a cost. E-waste in Africa is growing 20 per cent each year due to rising sales of electronic goods and legal and illegal imports of second hand and surplus equipment.”
Speaking yesterday at a workshop on electronic waste, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) deputy director on environment education and public awareness, Betty Nzioka, said that arrangements are on board to have the production plant up and running by next month.
According to the company’s plan collection points will be set up in all of Kenya’s 47 counties from where the e-waste will be collected and transported to the Mombasa road plant.
The company is in alliance with Hewlett-Packard (HP), Dell, Philips, Nokia and Reclaimed Appliances (UK) Ltd, which have jointly worked over the past 18 months to set up in Kenya the appropriate legislation to frame EACR’s recycling concept, in direct connection with the Kenyan government.
Nokia and Samsung Kenya have also had e-waste recycling ventures where they have partnered with Safaricom, Airtel, Tuskys, Nakumatt and Naivas Supermarkets where individuals can drop off their refuse.
