Abstract
E-waste is the world’s fastest growing and most valuable domestic waste stream. The increasing production of e-waste is driving elevated levels of export from developed to developing countries. Although countries worldwide are actively recognising the issues around e-waste and introducing policies, legislation or regulations governing e-waste, a large fraction of e-waste, goes undocumented at its end-of-life. Much of the global e-waste is accumulating in open dumpsites in several African countries. Using available data, we calculate the total e-waste in Africa (locally produced plus imported e-waste) for 2019 to be between 5.8 and 3.4 metric tonnes (Mt). This is believed to be an underestimate, large data gaps exist, hindering more precise estimates. The data is further complicated by, sometimes intentional, differences in labelling and reporting between formal and intermittent informal importers. Based on the available data, the main African recipients of e-waste are Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, with Kenya, Senegal and Egypt featuring as countries of concern. The lack of proper waste management in the recipient developing countries, leads to environmental contamination and human exposure. A coordinated, regional and global, approach is needed in tackling e-waste. Regulatory frameworks, together with monitoring and compliance mechanisms need to be developed, financed, and enforced.
Highlights
Global waste production continues to grow with increasing population and increasing per capita consumption associated with economic growth [1]
Import data for e-waste is currently lacking for the Americas and Asia, one can assume many other port cities in Africa are receiving large volumes of the same types of discarded European consumer products [12] as well as from the United States of America (USA) and other developed nations [15]
Prior to 2012, Nigeria and China received the majority of the global cross-border transport of e-waste [35], this changed in 2011 when China introduced the Regulation on Management of the Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment [61]
Summary
The increase in mismanaged waste has been reported around the world, made visible by plastic pollution. Global waste production continues to grow with increasing population and increasing per capita consumption associated with economic growth [1]. With increasing economic and technological development, dependence and rapid obsolescence of electronics increased [2, 3]. This makes e-waste the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream [4]. Global volumes have doubled in the last decade [5]. Containing rare-earth and other metals, it is one of the most valuable waste streams per volume. In addition to existing predicted increases of e-waste [6] and despite the economic impact of the pandemic, global e-waste may increase rapidly during and post COVID-19, driven by demands for electronics due to remote working and home schooling [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
