Background:
While legislation governing e-waste in may developed countries has received a lot of attention recently, there are many unknowns for ICT practitioners working in developing regions. To what extent is e-waste an issue? Do we need to be concerned? Does civil society need to be raising awareness and lobbying for better e-waste legislation?
Following an e-waste workshop in South Africa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) stated that many developing countries have not yet established adequate environmental standards. This, it said, resulted in e-waste processing causing detrimental impacts on health and the environment (Furter, 2004).
Reports on the e-waste policy preparedness in a country like South Africa are mixed. On the one hand, environmental legislation is thought to offer a good foundation in support of e-waste objectives (Furter, 2004). On the other, a comprehensive e-waste management strategy has not been incorporated into the pending national waste management bill, currently being developed by the Waste Management Department of Environmental Affairs (Mackay, 2004).
At the same time, the Basel Convention Regional Centre in Pretoria, which focuses on the 21 English-speaking African countries, says e-waste is not yet perceived as a problem in Africa and that there is a need to raise awareness around e-waste issues on the continent (Furter, 2004).
Project Synopsis:
To develop a discussion document highlighting key e-waste issues that need to be better understood by civil society, with a particular emphasis on developing regions. Through conducting background research, interviews and site visits, it will raise key points for discussion to be further pursued.
References:
Furter, L. (2004) e-Waste has dawned. RéSource, May 2004. Publisher and place unknown.
International Telecommunication Union (2004) Africa: The World's Fastest Growing Mobile Market. Press release, April 26, 2004. www.itu.int
Jensen, M. (2003) Chapter 6: ICT in Africa: A Status Report. World Economic Forum's
Global Information Technology Report 2002-2003. World Economic Forum, Geneva.
Mackay, T. (2004) Where do PCs go to die? PCFormat, August 2004. Publisher and place unknown.
UNESCO (2003). First international meeting of specialists on New Synergies for Recycling Information Technology Equipment. Final Report, 14-15 March 2003. Paris, UNESCO Headquarters
For more information mail Open Research at: info@openresearch.co.za
