The electronic waste (e-waste) menace around the world has been a major environmental and health concern to Governments. In many developing countries, balancing between the need to bridge the so-called ‘digital divide’ and curbing technology dumping has often put Governments, manufactures and importers on a collision course.
The latest place in the developing world that has gained notoriety as the world’s biggest e-waste dump-site is Agbobloshie in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Analysis of samples taken from this e-waste scrap yard in Ghana by Greenpeace International
(a global campaigning organization) revealed severe
contamination with hazardous chemicals.
Ghana has witnessed a rapid growth in the inflow of mobile phones and computers and their peripherals and television sets, thanks to a flourishing Communications sector that has allowed in multiple telcos. Multi-simming, the ownership of more than one active mobile phone lines by one person is commonplace in Ghana, and that accounts for the high mobile phone penetration. The total number of active mobile phone lines in Ghana as at November, 2012 stood at 25,344,745, which is marginally higher than the estimated population of Ghana, which stood at 25,241,998. Mobile penetration in Ghana therefore stands at 100.41%. Official data released by the Ghana Shippers Authority indicates that the country imported 31,400 metric tons of used Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) in 2010, 75% more than what was imported into the country in 2009.According to UNEP’s recent statistics an estimated 20 to 50 million tons of electronics waste is generated annually which, according to one estimate, if loaded on railway trucks would produce a train that would stretch once around the world.
E-waste contains hazardous constituents that may negatively impact the environment and affect human health if not properly managed. E-waste is more hazardous than many other municipal wastes because EEE contain components made of deadly chemicals and heavy metals which can potentially damage the nervous system, the kidneys, bones, and the reproductive and the endocrine systems. Many of the chemicals present in the e-wastes are persisting in the environment, which means their effecting will be abiding for many centuries.
Ghana is rapidly becoming one of the most favorite destinations for obsolete computers and other e-wastes from the developed world, mainly Europe and America. There is incessant inflow of hundreds of containers filled with used EEE at the port. Most of the electronic gadgets arriving in Ghana are labeled as second-hands goods but in reality majority of them are e-waste, ostensibly creating an electronic waste dump. E-waste dumping has become a major problem due to the fact that there are no formidable laws to deal with e-waste trade and recycling in Ghana and in many developing countries.
There are no laws to regulate e-waste trade and recycling in Ghana and in many developing countries. Presently, dumping of hazardous waste from advanced countries in developing countries is prohibited by the Basel Convention, an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and to specifically prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries. EU laws also prohibit the export of e-waste to countries like Ghana.
While African governments are gradually becoming aware of the problems of e-waste, few are taking steps in drawing up policies. Some countries are focusing on the age of imported EEE while others are considering a complete ban of second-hand EEE from entering their territories. Ghana and Uganda are respectively two examples of the two foci above. These notwithstanding, it is worth mentioning that policies and regulations focusing on regulating imports and banning have faced numerous setbacks in their enforcement in some jurisdictions.
Most developed countries have in place legislation mandating electronic manufacturers and importers to take-back used Electrical and Electronic Equipment at their end-of-life (EoL) based on the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR). It is worth advocating that the frontiers of EPR must be extended to developing countries for e-waste take-back. Adoption and implementation of EPR in the developing countries has become necessary in the light of the present high level of trans-boundary movement of e-waste into the developing countries and the lack of basic or state-of-the-art recycling and waste disposal facilities. Electronic producers should take up the responsibility of taking-back their products to recycle them in an acceptable way when they become waste.
In conclusion, it becomes obvious that adoption and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in developing countries may not be the only silver bullet that may nib the present and impending dangers of e-waste in the bud. A Change in attitude by governments, appropriate legislation dealing specifically with e-waste, control of electronic waste dumping coupled with implementation of EPR and transfer of technology on sound recycling of e-waste are the key issues in effective management of e-waste in developing countries.
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