e-Waste from electrical and electronic appliances and devices is becoming a major problem for South Africa.
 
According to Gauteng’s government website, the country produces around 360,000 tons of e-waste every year, with the province accounting for 55% of that volume.
 
"Consumers need to be better educated on how to properly dispose of their appliances if we are to avoid an environmental catastrophe," says Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the official producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy.
 
New Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation puts the onus on importers and/or manufacturers of these products to ensure environmentally sound management of their products which could include recycling of their products. However, the initiative could be severely hampered if consumers don’t know what to do with their old appliances.
 
What is e-waste?
e-waste comprises most electrical and electronic appliances or devices found in the typical South African household or business. These include domestic appliances, power tools, digital devices and computers, electricity generation and storage devices, lighting, reusable and disposable batteries, cables and the like.
 
Such appliances and accessories should never be disposed of in normal refuse bins, dumping grounds or landfills. They are likely to contain materials that are potentially explosive, poisonous or otherwise hazardous to humans and animals, and will contaminate surrounding areas as they break down. Additionally, be wary of companies that encourage you the consumer to take you appliance to a “smashing centre” to smash the appliance with a bat for fun or for you to release frustration, this is an unhealthy and unsafe practice and is not legal in accordance with the National Environmental Management Waste Act of 2008, and it could result in fines.
 
"Therefore, they require specialised handling, recycling and treatment by suitably qualified persons within safely isolated environments," says Schröder.
 
In addition, e-waste lost to landfill means that scarce resources which could have been harvested and recycled must now be mined afresh.
 
How to dispose of appliances
Sure, it is easier to throw an old appliance in the municipal bin or skip. Yet, with a little research, consumers will discover alternatives that are far safer and more environmentally responsible. Circular Energy offers a dedicated collection service for your used or waste electric or electronic equipment, lighting or lighting equipment, and batteries. You can visit the Circular Energy website and navigate to the “click to collect” button to arrange for the collection of your e-waste.
 
Making appliance disposal intuitive
As EPR becomes entrenched in South African industry and retail, consumer education and involvement will be key to controlling e-waste.
 
It is also imperative that a two-way supply chain is established to ensure that disposal of e-waste is as natural, intuitive and easy as buying an appliance in the first place.
 
“There’s still a lot of work to be done towards that end but consumers can contribute now by making full use of the avenues already available to them," says Schröder.
 
ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux , 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy

As South Africa continues to roll out compulsory Extended Producer Responsibility schemes in accordance with refined EPR regulations, the critical role of waste pickers cannot be overlooked or discarded.
 
This is according to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy. "Waste pickers are key actors in the waste management ecosystem whose contribution should be fully supported by EPR processes," she says.
 
EPR is a global initiative adopted by many countries, including South Africa, that places the onus on producers to manage the lifecycle of nominated products past their disposal stage.
 
The aim is to encourage the recycling of waste and reduce the burden on landfills.
 
The importance of waste pickers
The greatest contribution of waste pickers is that their activities divert recyclable products away from landfills where they would otherwise be lost. Instead, these materials are directed toward processing for economical reuse.
 
As a result, the work of the waste picker assists in mitigating climate change and improving the environment for their community.
 
Their work also relieves municipalities of the burden of sorting and separating recyclables from waste internally, reducing their operating costs in the process.
 
In addition, because waste reduction is a growing concern, the profession is a fertile channel for job creation.
 
"Waste pickers provide an essential service with hidden benefits we cannot afford to ignore," says Schröder.
 
Protecting pickers
According to the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, more than 22 million people around the world earn a living as informal waste workers. Yet, the organisation’s review of global EPR policies and practices suggests that EPR more threatens than supports these participants.
 
"South Africa needs to ensure its waste pickers are protected through formal, transparent programmes that fully integrate their services and provide fair compensation and incentives," says Schröder.
 
Waste Picker Integration Guideline for South Africa, published by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), offers 10 integration principles. These are:

• Recognition, respect and redress of unequal relationships between pickers and beneficiaries of their services
• Valuing waste pickers expertise and needs
• Meaningful engagement through legitimate platforms
• Using waste pickers' existing informal system as the basis for new formal recycling programmes and contracts
• Increased diversion of recyclables from landfills through cost effective means
• Evidence-based programmes and policies
• Providing an enabling environment at national, provincial and local levels
• Improved income and working conditions
• Fair compensation for services and savings
• Improved community and stakeholder perception of waste pickers as equal and active participants in the waste management process

 
Recent amendments to the Regulation Regarding Extended Producer Responsibility also entrench the importance of waste pickers by providing a formal definition for the term and including their participation in the definition of "collection".
 
An inclusive EPR
The successful implementation of EPR in South Africa demands that all stakeholders should benefit from the process and share in its ambitions.
 
This means waste pickers must be recognised as integral members of the waste management community and that any risk to them associated with EPR should be addressed promptly.
 
"Their participation in the EPR scheme is a significant step towards building an inclusive, sustainable waste management system in South Africa," says Schröder.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux, 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy