Africa Focus: East African states renew commitment to combat e- waste

East African countries on Wednesday vowed to harmonize policy and regulatory frameworks to enhance response to the menace of electronic waste (e-waste) that poses serious threats to human and ecological health.

Policy makers and experts from the region said in Nairobi that countries will share best practices and roll out joint programs to promote management of e-waste.

"E-Waste is an emerging environmental challenge across the east African region thanks to increasing demand for electronic devices like mobile phones, tablets and computers," said Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment Judi Wakhungu.

She said disjointed policy and regulatory frameworks, infrastructural and resource gaps hampered sustainable management of e-waste in the region.

Pollution occasioned by unsafe disposal of obsolete electronic gadgets is to blame for a spike in life threatening diseases across the east African region.

Wakhungu said tused electronic gadgets are being disposed into landfills adjacent to residential premises and sensitive ecosystems.

"E-waste when burnt causes air pollution through release of toxic emissions. Poor disposal blocks water channels and compromises scenic beauty," Wakhungu said, adding that East African countries should explore innovative but homegrown measures to contain the menace of e-waste.

She said investment in recycling facilities and technical skills will promote management of e-waste while creating jobs for youth and women.

"Recycling makes business sense because end of life electronic devices contain precious metals such as gold, silver and copper. Establishment of vibrant treatment facilities will unleash environmental and economic benefits to the East African Community, " Wakhungu said.

Kenya has established two e-waste recycling plants and has partnered with industry to raise public awareness on safe disposal of used electronic devices. Wakhungu stressed that regional cooperation is crucial to curb transboundary movement of e-waste.

"Countries must harmonize environmental standards and invest in joint capacity building programs to promote safe handling and disposal of electronic waste," said Wakhungu.

Rapid growth of the ICT sector across the east African region in the last two decades has worsened the challenge of electronic waste.

Hodge Semakula, Executive Secretary with East Africa Communications Organization (EACO), said urbanization and rising incomes have fuelled uptake of mobile phones, refrigerators, televisions and personal computers.

"Countries in the region are grappling with high volume of e- waste due to importation of second hand devices that contain hazardous substances. Regrettably, these countries lack data on volume of e-waste generated," Semakula said, calling on the establishment of regional centers of excellence to promote recycling and re-use of electronic waste. Endi