ITU EVENTS IN AFRICA KAMPALA 23 27

ITU EVENTS IN AFRICA (KAMPALA, 23 – 27 JUNE 2014 ) Recycling E-Waste for the ICTs Raw materials Supply, Protection of the Environment and creation of Wealth. WEALTH IN THE WASTE Derick Simiyu Khamali Communications Commission of Kenya Email: khamali@cck. go. ke

Introduction Electronic waste continues to accumulate everyday as people embrace technology. There is an inherent human phenomenon to keep upgrading equipment in tandem with economic changes and market innovations There is need to therefore create a channel of recycling the obsolete equipment through safer recycling. 2

Introduction … 2 There is need to create a safe channel of recycling obsolete equipment. E-waste contains vital minerals that are rare in nature and can be reused if well extracted. Increased E-Waste volumes therefore directly translates to potential for recovery of essential material for new productions. There is need to have a structured industrial process to efficiently recycle the Ewaste. 3

Abstract The ICT sector is rated as one holding potential fo sustained economic growth in administrations. This phenomena has created the need for continuous upgrades and innovations. The associated ripple effect is daily generation of Ewaste and increased demand for raw material that can sustain new productions. Recycling Ewaste is therefore key to assist in managing the accumulating levels. 4

Abstract … 2 Electronic waste could be quite lucrative for business. One can make up to 45 USD per day. It is estimated that: nine tons of copper, 24 kg of gold and 250 kg of silver, All can be found in every one million phones. Thousands of tons of e-waste pass through Kenya every single year. This therefore makes a business case. 5

Abstract … 3 According to the Managing Director at HP East Africa, “We need to educate the population that this socalled electronic waste is actually a resource. It becomes a resource when it is recycled in the correct way. ” But there’s a downside: If the waste is disposed of in the wrong way, harmful toxins can be released making it Waste 6

Recycling Process: Recycling means processing E-waste into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials. It reduces consumption of virgin raw materials, energy usage, water and air pollution. It stops the need for waste disposal and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling is a key component of today’s waste reduction and is part of the "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" waste hierarchy. 7

Recycling Process: The main phases are summarized below: Phase 1: Collection & Consolidation of waste also called take back. This involves logistical issues like consumer awareness of recycling. Phase 2: Pre-treatment; done by recycling companies who separate the different materials in a product. Phase 3: Consists of the recovery, packaging and selling of materials and disposal. 8

Recycling Process - challenges: Every phase has a minor side flow of disposal of the fractions that cannot be further processed. In principle, discarded equipment is tested in order to separate working items from nonworking items. E-waste should therefore be dispatched normally to specialized recycling facilities. However the reality is that it is often diverted to black-market 9

Recycling Process - challenges: There are two main ways in which old/obsolete equipment can be discarded: First, private consumers dispose of used equipment at municipal waste collection sites The second is where businesses contract a specialized waste company to collect and treat defunct equipment. 10

Recycling Process - Challenges: The motivations preferring the black market are numerous: First is to avoid the legitimate recycling costs and secondly to receive quick payments for the scrap equipment The location of the recycling plant therefore need to be close/in-proximity of source of the waste material to reduce the return path and costs associated with the same. 11

Status in Kenya like most of Africa and the rest of the globe has seen tremendous uptake of ICT applications, products and services. The uptake of ICT technology and continuous innovations has seen several equipment and parts rendered obsolete and discarded in preference of the latest high capacity models. The volumes generated is on a continuous growth path and must now be managed. 12

Status in Kenya through the ministry of Environment and National Environment Management Authority - NEMA has embarked on sanitising this process. Considering that the process of managing EWaste is a complex venture as outlined above, Kenya has engaged and licensed an international independent specialised organisation to assist The country has also joined the neighbouring countries in East Africa through EACO to generate regional proposals & recommendations on managing Ewaste. 13

Ewaste Recycling plant in Kenya The plant called East Africa Compliant Recycling EACR is located along Mombasa Road in Nairobi It has experts leading local staff providing skills transfer and employment opportunities. The plant is training collectors and is engaging Ewaste collection points in Kenya and beyond. The plant has capacity to process large volume of Ewaste per day, its a challenge to the waste supply chain to be proactive to sustain demand 14

Ewaste Recycling plant in Kenya The sources and types of Ewaste includes non ICT equipment. The plant is organized in terms of categories of Source including; Home Appliances, ICT Equipment, Power and energy transmission equipment products etc. The statistics on supply and delivery of the waste material is therefore critical for planning. This is the reason for training and preparation of the collectors and design of their centers 15

Ewaste Recycling plant in Kenya EACR model is the first of its kind, not just in Africa but anywhere in the world. It is about connecting the collector to the global markets for the materials, and providing them with a fair and transparent price in actual fact to ensure they get the maximum value for the waste. ” The philosophy and rallying call for EACR is that “One thing’s for sure… electronic waste has no shortage. It is estimated that by 2017, e-waste is predicted to reach 65 million tons (worldwide 16

Vital minerals in EWaste The Materials sourced from the used and/or discarded Electronic Equipment are plenty. These include; a. Lead, Tantalum, Cadmium, b. Gold, Silver, Copper c. Beryllium and Brominates flame retardants. d. The list continues depending on the interest of the market and the recycler capacity. 17

Regional supply chain. The great lakes region has a rich deposit of mineral ores that provide the highly demanded raw materials for ICT Productions. The Exploration of this minerals has however been unstructured and often caused conflicts and environmental degradation. Kenya through its port and infrastructure; acts both as the transport corridor for both incoming finished products and outgoing raw materials. Structured Ewaste recycling is essential input to reduce pressure on the raw material demand 18

Legal Issues: Management and Resolution of Environmental issues is an emotive and challenging subject in many ways. The challenges include: Lack of policies and enforcement mechanisms on Waste recycling and separation. Lack of policies on importation of Equipment leading to sustained entry of Substandard & counterfeit products. There is sustained conflicts in source markets while exploration of the ICT RAW minerals is ongoing. Under these conditions, there is no consideration on environmental degradation and conservation efforts. 19

Proposed Solutions and Suggestions Review and enforce developed guidelines for the management of the Electronic Waste. (Ref: NEMA) Develop guidelines for Ewaste collection and separation along the chain/source. Need for regional coordination of Ewaste movement and management. Develop and Enforce importation policies to ensure that counterfeits and substandard products are not allowed - Type Approval. 20

Advantages from Recycling There a number of advantages accrued from a structured recycling efforts. This include: 1. A cleaner and safe environment 2. Peace & safety for the source market. 3. Productive, habitable and a regenerated environment for the ores and source regions. 4. Financial and economic prosperity of the source markets. 5. Alternative and cost effective supply of ICT Raw materials and increased supply market. Nairobi, Kenya, 26 – 27 July 2010 21

Recommendations EACR to be supported by all in the region in all the identified source market. There is need to educate the public on release and separation of Ewaste for collection to the recycling plan There is need to study the actual value in the Ewaste products and to determine the corresponding price to benefit stakeholders. E- Waste definitions should continue being developed to make an all inclusive coverage yet avoiding products out of this category, 22

Conclusion. There is wealth in the Waste. Direct revenue, Employment and business enterprises. Recycling waste may reverse the pressure on the ICT Supply chain by creating an alternative source. Recycling as a perfect component of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle model should be fully exploited. Recycling is a direct way of protecting the environment against harmful effects of Ewaste 23

Thank you! Asante sana Webale Nyo 24