Will EPR laws solve East Africa’s electronic waste crisis?
The surge in electronic device consumption such as mobile phones, refrigerators and televisions has resulted in a mounting e-waste problem.
What you need to know:
- While Africa generates less e-waste per capita than other regions, over 60 per cent of its e-waste originates from imports.
The East African Communications Organisation (EACO) recently hosted its 7th Regional Awareness Conference in Nairobi under the theme "Advancing Sustainable E-Waste Management in East Africa: Embracing Extended Producer Responsibility." The event brought together more than 100 participants, including government officials, ICT regulators, industry players, and environmental policymakers to address the region's growing challenge of electronic waste (e-waste).
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally. The 2024 Global Environmental Monitor reported that three of Africa's most active ports, Durban (South Africa), Bizerte (Tunisia), and Lagos (Nigeria), have all been identified as major entry points for used Electrical and Electronic Equipment, suggesting that e-waste shipments continue to circumvent the Basel and Bamako Conventions. The Basel Convention regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, while the Bamako Convention, a regional agreement, specifically prohibits the import of hazardous waste into Africa.
East Africa is no exception. The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) estimates Kenya generates over 51,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. The surge in electronic device consumption such as mobile phones, refrigerators and televisions has resulted in a mounting e-waste problem. With mobile phone penetration skyrocketing and electronic goods sales increasing across East Africa, the volume of e-waste is expected to rise exponentially unless proactive measures are implemented.
Health hazards
At the EACO conference, Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy CS William Kabogo observed that only one per cent of e-waste in Africa is formally collected and recycled, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action to address this environmental and health hazard. He highlighted that while Africa generates less e-waste per capita than other regions, over 60 per cent of its e-waste originates from imports.
“With the expanding digital society and more electronic devices in use, e-waste and ICT-related carbon emissions will continue to rise unless governments, regulators, industry players and consumers take concerted action now,” the CS warned.
Ally Simba, executive secretary of EACO, emphasised that infrastructure gaps, like the lack of recycling facilities and repair services, remain a significant barrier to effective management. He noted that while progress has been made in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies across East Africa, challenges remain in enforcement and compliance. He called on stakeholders to set ambitious targets and monitor progress rigorously.
Emerging as a leader in e-waste management within the region, Kenya has enacted regulations such as the Sustainable Waste Management Act and EPR frameworks. These laws compel producers to take responsibility for their products' disposal, ensuring a more sustainable lifecycle for electronic devices.
The conference underscored the need for regional cooperation to tackle e-waste effectively, with leaders urging East African nations to harmonise their policies and align them with international frameworks such as the African Union's E-Waste Management Plan. They advocated for public-private partnerships as a critical tool for addressing infrastructure gaps.
Mary Mungai, chairperson of Kenya's Communication Authority Board, said educating citizens about proper disposal methods and recycling benefits is crucial for a sustainable circular economy. She highlighted that recycling initiatives could create jobs and stimulate innovation within East Africa's digital economy. She called on stakeholders to invest in infrastructure that supports recycling while promoting local production of electronic devices.
ICT Principal Secretary John Tanui, urged countries to shift from electronics consumers to producers. He advocated for investments in semiconductor technology and local manufacturing to control the electronic product lifecycle better. This approach, he said, would reduce import dependency and minimise e-waste generation at its source.
David Mugonyi, director general of Kenya's Communication Authority, cautioned that the surge in the importation of counterfeit and low-quality electronic products and end-user devices, which have a shorter lifespan and generate large amounts of e-waste, is aggravating the situation and endangering the entire value chain.
Extended Producer Responsibility as solution
The conference theme centered on EPR, a policy approach that places manufacturers accountable for managing their products' end-of-life disposal. CS Kabogo praised EPR regulations as a step forward in addressing Africa's e-waste crisis. By ensuring producers take responsibility for collection and recycling efforts, EPR frameworks promote sustainable practices across industries.
EPR is anchored within the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, which came into force in July 2022, with section 13 of the Act stipulating that EPR is a mandatory requirement for everyone introducing a product into the Kenya market. This regulation places responsibility on producers for the entire lifecycle of their products, including waste management.
Nema Enforcement Director Ayub Macharia said properly implemented EPR will force producers to declare the volume of products introduced in the market and their plans for handling them when their use ends. “This will shift waste management from county governments to producers, making tracking, tracing, and recycling e-waste easy.”
