As the world marks International e-Waste Day, the public is being encouraged to recycle their e-waste and declutter their homes.

Every year millions of electrical and electronic devices are discarded as products break or become obsolete and are thrown away.

These discarded devices are considered e-waste and can become a threat to health and the environment if they are not disposed of and recycled appropriately.

“To date almost 68 000 tons of e-waste has been diverted from landfill and recycled through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. The retailers are providing collection points across the country enabling the recycling of e-waste,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said on Monday.

South Africa is currently in its third year of EPR Regulations that cover lighting, electrical and electronic equipment waste.

“The EPR Regulations were brought into law in South Africa in 2021. The policy is aimed at improving the producers’ responsibility and accountability for t
he post-consumer stage of their products’ life cycle.

‘To implement these regulations, the E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA) serves as intermediary between industry and the government, with a particular focus on Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment and Lighting (WEEEL) – which includes electronic waste, lighting, and batteries,’ the department explained.

Tackling waste

With the commemoration of e-Waste Day, the DFFE highlighted its efforts in managing electrical and electronic waste.

The department is tackling e-waste, amongst others by enforcing legislative and regulatory measures to contribute to pollution reduction, resource conservation and effective energy consumption.

‘The department is strengthening enforcement action against Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) producers that are not complying, including free riders. Thus far, 37 Pre-Compliance Notices have been issued to EEE producers. All producers of EEE are required to register with the Department to ensure that they are compliant.’

Cu
rrently, the department is considering comments that were received from the public on the draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) National Management Policy.

‘This policy aims to provide a robust, integrative, harmonising and comprehensive policy framework that leads to the safe and sustainable management of all WEEE in South Africa that is evidence-based, transparent and inclusive, therefore responding to the needs of all South Africans.

‘The rationale of the draft WEEE National Management Policy is to outline the intention of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to address WEEE management in a way that yields triple-bottom-line benefits. The triple-bottom-line aims to create new economic opportunities; offer decent and safe working conditions; and ensure the protection of the environment and people who depend on it,’ the department said.

This year’s international e-Waste Day is taking place under the ‘Join the e-Waste Hunt – Retrieve, Recycle and Revive’.

The theme encourages th
e public to recycle their e-waste and declutter their homes, hunt down forgotten electronics and take out unused electronics that have gained new life to their nearest e-Waste collection points.

Source: South African Government News Agency