Following several actions being taken in East and Southern Africa to tackle the dumping of e-wastes, West Africa has now become a destination for e-wastes from different parts of the world according to studies conducted by the European Commission and U.N.
According to communication technology and services firm Ericsson, West Africa is becoming highly affected by e-waste, relative to other regions on the continent. It said the problem is compounded by the fact that most countries in Africa do not have e-waste recycling facilities. The lack of facilities results in careless disposal of electronic products.
This is why it has partnered with MTN Benin to launch the first e-waste collection center and awareness drive in the West African country.
Freddrik Jejdling, head of sub-Saharan Africa operations at Ericsson said: “Ericsson has been partnering with its customers on e-waste collection and the initiative has expanded to include creating awareness about e-waste and helping to ensure that end-of-life material is treated in an environmentally sound manner.”
“Raising awareness and preventing e-waste from ending up on the streets is part of Ericsson’s social responsibility.”
Ghana, Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Liberia are said to be among the hardest-hit countries in West Africa. In 2012, Ghana planned to ban imports of used air conditioners, television sets and used fridges, but the plans were shelved. CIO reported that in 2013, the U.N. urged the Ghanaian government to support the country’s recycling sector to ensure it could cope with the huge amount of e-waste that ends up there.
“The careless disposal of electronic equipment can cause significant health and environmental risks. E-waste can contain hazardous substances including heavy metals such as lead and mercury, as well as endocrine-disrupting substances such as brominated flame retardants,” CIO said.
“Much of the recycling of e-waste that takes place in Africa occurs on an informal basis, often in unmonitored dumpsites or landfills. The problem is that most African countries do not yet have ICT policies to support the establishment of e-waste plants.”
