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HP begins second phase of e-waste project

Training existing informal recycling facilities in Africa is key to success

E-waste is a huge problem in Africa

A pilot e-waste recycling project set up by HP in Cape Town has seen successful results generating an income of about $14,000 in nine months and creating employment for 19 people.

The hardware vendor has been working with charity the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) to tackle the mounting problem of e-waste in Africa, which often gets used as a dumping ground for old IT equipment.

The partners have been trying to encourage local businesses to tackle e-waste in keeping with international health and safety regulations.

Project manager and Empa researcher Mathias Schluep said the Cape Town trial - coupled with research in Morocco and Kenya - had shown that providing training to those who recycle waste already will help professionalise their jobs.

“By providing tools and training we have removed potential environmental and health problems that can be caused by handling e-waste incorrectly," he said.

"What’s more, we have created a channel to full employment for creative minds in the existing informal [waste recycling] sector."

The next phase of the partnerships project will look to engage governments in other countries and further extend e-waste management programmes and recycling facilities such as the one in Cape Town across the continent.

Research in Kenya showed that although the country is producing 3,000 tonnes of e-waste per year there is a lack of legislative framework and practical management systems.

The study found that a legislative framework would encourage a nascent waste-recycling industry into big business.

HP begins second phase of e-waste project

Training existing informal recycling facilities in Africa is key to success

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