DEARTH OF RECYCLING CENTRES
SA not cashing in on electronic waste
A levy incentive may spur companies to set up recycling centres to tackle e-waste
The electronic-waste industry would need at least four times more recycling centres to cater for the rise in the number of devices and household electrical items that are being discarded regularly in SA, says Keith Anderson, the chairman of the e-Waste Association of SA (eWasa). Globally, it is estimated that electronic waste, or e-waste, is worth $350bn. In 2015, the global volume of e-waste reached 41.8-million tonnes, with 60% coming from household items such as irons, kettles and dishwashers. Technology hardware made up 7%, according to the UN. According to Anderson, e-waste is growing five times faster than other sources, because more people are buying electronic goods and the lifespan of some items is decreasing. SA’s e-waste market is about R3bn. eWasa has 1,000 collection points for electronic devices and less than 100 recycling centres across the country. A levy is being proposed on all electrical and electronic products in a bid to manage the disposal of those items when t...
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