International E-Waste Day: Public Urged To Recycle Electronic Waste, Declutter Homes

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on Monday, urged public to recycle their electronic waste and clean out their homes on International e-Waste Day.

Every year, millions of electrical and electronic devices are thrown away when they break or become outdated. These discarded devices are known as e-waste and can harm health and the environment if they are not disposed of and recycled properly.

"To date almost 68,000 tons of e-waste has been diverted from landfill and recycled through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. The retailers are providing collection points across the country enabling the recycling of e-waste," the department said, SA News reported.

It added, "The EPR Regulations were brought into law in South Africa in 2021. The policy is aimed at improving the producers' responsibility and accountability for the post-consumer stage of their product's life cycle."

The department explained that to enforce these regulations, the E-Waste Recycling Authority (ERA) acts as a link between the industry and the government. It focuses specifically on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Lighting (WEEEL), which includes electronic waste, lighting and batteries.

The DFFE highlighted its efforts to manage electrical and electronic waste. The department is addressing e-waste by enforcing laws and regulations to help reduce pollution, conserve resources, and improve energy use.

The department is taking stronger actions against producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) who do not comply with regulations, including those who benefit without contributing.

So far, 37 Pre-Compliance Notices have been issued to EEE producers. All producers of EEE must register with the Department to ensure they are following the rules.

Currently, the department is reviewing feedback from the public on the draft Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) National Management Policy. This policy aims to create a strong and comprehensive framework for safely and sustainably managing all WEEE in South Africa.

It will be based on evidence, be transparent and be inclusive to meet the needs of all South Africans.

The department explained that the purpose of the draft WEEE National Management Policy is to show the South African government's commitment to managing e-waste in a way that benefits the economy, the environment and society.

This approach aims to create new economic opportunities, provide safe and decent working conditions, and protect the environment and those who depend on it. This year's international e-Waste Day theme is "Join the e-Waste Hunt – Retrieve, Recycle and Revive."

The theme encourages the public to recycle their e-waste and clean out their homes by finding forgotten electronics and taking unused devices to their nearest e-waste collection points.