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

The UN describes e-waste as any discarded products that “have a battery or plug, and contain hazardous and toxic materials that can endanger both human and environmental health”.
 
Yet according to Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy, e-recycling is not a priority for South Africans -  despite the fact that about 95% of e-waste can actually be recycled, reclaimed, or treated and beneficiated.
 
“For instance, only 10 to 12% of waste electrical and electronic equipment and between 2.5% and 5% of waste lighting are recycled. This is extremely low,” she cautions. “Given that e-waste includes toxic substances, its effective material recovery and environmentally sound recycling are crucial - and our local service providers, including formal and informal recyclers, have a massive role to play to improve the situation.” 
 
The Problem: An e-Pollution Crisis
Schröder explains that e-waste that is not correctly managed, including that that is disposed of in landfills, can release harmful pollutants.
 
“These toxic materials, especially heavy metals like mercury and cadmium, can harm ecosystems, accumulate in food chains, and have immediate and very noticeable negative impacts on human health.”
 
Furthermore, Schröder says, by not recycling or reusing e-waste, new natural resources must be mined in order to produce electronics. This as opposed to recouping what is already available in the market.
 
The Solution: Sound Waste Management
Due to its toxic and hazardous components, electronic waste can no longer be disposed of in landfills as of 2021. Instead, it must be treated by an authorised company that recycles waste electrical and electronic equipment (widely known as WEEE or e-waste).

This should be done by following sound e-waste recycling principles -  the process of extracting valuable materials after shredding the e-waste into smaller fractions that could be reused in a new electronic appliance.
 
“The government is attempting to address environmental pollution by banning the disposal of WEEE and batteries - and these authorised facilities are equipped with the know-how and tools needed to securely dispose of e-waste and recover recyclable materials,” Schröder explains.
 
She goes on to caution service providers not to fall for the tricks of illegal, unlicensed dealers or businesses that buy the items at very cheap rates and claim to recycle them when the remainder is then actually illegally dumped with other waste.
 
The Added Benefit: Financial Gain
Schröder says service providers should not forget that effective e-waste management can also have financial advantages.
 
“Materials like gold, copper, glass, aluminum, lithium, plastic, and more can be recovered in this manner. One international study estimated that in 2016, the raw material value of e-waste was around 55 billion euros.  Additionally, by recycling these materials back into the supply chain for the creation of new products, the manufacturing of new electronics is becoming more environmentally friendly. This releases fewer hazardous materials into the environment, and is generally more sustainable.”
 
She adds that there is also a significant social and economic impact, with recycling and reuse accounting for thousands of jobs.
 
“Of course, e-waste is only a portion of that, but as it is also the waste stream with the fastest growth rate, it is likely to become much more significant as our reliance on digital devices increases.”
 
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

After enduring more than 200 days of load shedding in 2022, South African businesses and households are increasingly turning to solar power to meet their everyday energy needs. But as solar power installations boom, it is important that consumers are made aware of the need to properly dispose of solar panels after use.
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In 2016, the International Renewable Energy Agency and International Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems predicted that South Africa could accumulate between 750 000 and one million tons of photovoltaic waste by 2050. However, the rapid uptake of solar power by an increasing number of households and businesses could push this number even higher.

Solar power equipment typically has a lifespan of between 20 and 30 years, under optimal operating conditions. While this may seem a long way off, it is important that consumers are made aware of the need to properly dispose of used solar panels.

Who is responsible for recycling solar panels?
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, which came into effect in May 2021, solar panel producers must take responsibility to ensure that much of their products are returned (and recycled by an accredited and licenced facility) after being sold and used. Manufacturers, importers, and brand owners are held accountable for the entire life cycle of the products they place on the market, from conception to post-consumer waste disposal.

But Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy, says consumers still have an important role to play. “If South Africa hopes to shift to make a meaningful and sustainable shift to renewable energy, we must involve everyone across the energy value chain. This includes consumers.”

Schröder says consumers can help to ensure that solar panels do not end up having a detrimental impact on the environment by enquiring about and taking part in the recycling programmes offered by producers instead of disposal of the panels themselves. Visit Circular Energy’s website to schedule a collection service for your electronic disposal needs. 

Can South Africa recycle solar panels?
South Africa does have the capacity to recycle solar panels. The glass and aluminium frame of a solar panel makes up more than 80% of its weight and both these materials can easily be recycled.

Although silicon only forms a small part of the panel, it is regarded as a hazardous material that cannot be disposed of in landfills. South African regulations stipulate that solar panels can only be recycled at licensed recycling facilities. “When these panels end up in landfills, it not only means that recyclable materials are going to waste. Some solar panel components can be very harmful, even penetrating the surrounding soil and water,” Schröder explains.

Schröder says South Africans using solar energy should be applauded for investing in green technology at a time combatting climate change has become critical. “However, consumers must also understand the possible negative impact that this same technology can have on the environment if it is not disposed of correctly,” she concludes.

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
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