There is an urgent need to sensitise the public on proper e-waste management to mitigate the environmental and health challenges posed by improper disposal.
According to Richard Masori, an Officer from the ICT Authority, many people and organisations are unaware of the potential environmental and health hazards caused by improper disposal of electronic gadgets.
Speaking in Kajiado County during an e-waste Management Awareness programme, Masori revealed that e-waste contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which cause chronic damage to the brain and the respiratory system and toxic irreversible effects on human health.
Hazardous compounds found in these wastes have also been linked to strong neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects, especially in children.
“E-waste contains Lead and Mercury metals that accumulate into the soil, endangering the natural minerals in it. When the waste is burnt, it emits toxic smoke, which is hazardous to human beings when inhaled. The runoff water drains to water sources, endangering aquatic life,” he explained.
Masori noted that the rapid technological advancement fuelled by the high consumption rates of electric and electronic equipment and their short life cycle has generated a large volume of e-waste.
Kenya collects an approximate 51,300 metric tonnes of e-waste annually, with only five per cent being recycled properly and the rest disposed of unsafely, endangering the environment and human life.
The officer cautioned the public against unsafe dismantling of electronics, which he said contain toxins that are harmful to the human body and may lead to cancer.
He said electronic products such as computers, laptops, mobile phones, and other home appliances such as televisions and fridges that are unwanted or not working should be dropped off at the e-waste recycling centers for proper disposal.
Masori revealed that if properly handled, e-waste can be a resource which can generate revenue.
“E-waste, if properly handled, can be a resource. The gold medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for example, were made from recycled electronic waste,” said the officer.
Diana Gicheru, a business associate at the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Centre, said a lot of e-waste was in the hands of people who had no knowledge of how to dispose of it.
She added that most of the waste ends up at dumpsites where they are burnt, increasing carbon emissions, which is harmful to the environment and health.
Gicheru revealed that WEEE has established several collection points all over the country where Kenyans can drop off their e-waste for safe disposal.
“Once all the e-waste has been collected, it is brought to our centre in Nairobi, where we test all the items to identify those that still have value. It is then that the waste is dismantled and separated and the raw materials extracted,” she said.
Some of the materials extracted include gold, copper, metals, glass, and plastic. Those that have value are disposed of through vendors while the unwanted material is destroyed.
Gicheru, however, noted that not all the e-waste can be disposed of at the Nairobi facility, adding that they have established linkages with other firms abroad which have the technology to handle such waste.
Wastes such as lantern lights, efflorescent tubes, toners, and cartridges are shipped out of the country for onwards disposal.
To create awareness on proper e-waste management, the WEEE Centre developed a programme targeting the youth, whom they engage in sensitising the community on proper waste disposal.
“The youth go round collecting e-waste such as unused phones, computers, laptops, and electronics and drop them at our centre for recycling. Through this, they are able to earn an income as they are paid a certain amount depending on the e-waste collected,” Gicheru said.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) County Coordinator Mark Angwenyi, on his part, revealed that the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 establishes the legal framework for the sustainable management of waste.
He added that the act establishes guidelines for identification, collection, sorting, recycling, and disposing of electrical and electronic waste. The guidelines also provide the basis for developing legal instruments to enhance enforcement.
By Rop Janet
