Appraisal of E-Waste Management Approaches in Zimbabwean Cities

Abstract

This paper examined the contribution of planning in the management of electronic waste in the quest to find sustainable approaches to manage this waste in Zimbabwe using the case of Harare city. The twenty-first century is experiencing phenomenal technological advancements in electronic gadgets worldwide and this results in the generation of e-waste. There is little empirical evidence about the existence of proper e-waste management in cities supported by planning. The study adopted the constructivist paradigm and a qualitative methodology linked to a case study approach, with semi-structured interviews and unobtrusive observations as well as literature review to unravel the findings. The study established that while electrical and electronic gadgets are a necessity, in Zimbabwe they are difficult to dispose and manage when they breakdown beyond repair or when they become obsolete. Because of this challenge, there is rampant illegal dumping of e-waste which is worsened by the operations of e-waste recyclers. The study concluded that the lack of proper e-waste management frameworks supported by planning contributes to the problems being experienced by Zimbabwean cities. Therefore, the formulation of proper legal and policy frameworks to guide the handling of e-waste through import controls, safe disposal and recycling is recommended.