Recycling Journeys – Where does my laptop/cell phone/tablet/kettle/CFL lamp go when it dies?

In South Africa, as is the case in the developed world, nearly everyone owns a cell phone whether they live in urban or rural areas. A typical home would have a kettle, a tv, a radio, a fridge, an electric stove, maybe a microwave and a toaster. In more affluent homes you are likely to find a washing machine, dishwasher, computers and much more. We love our electrical and electronic gadgets, and they are an important part of our lives. Millions of cell phones, tablets, computers, laptops, and whit goods like fridges, washing machines and dishwashers make their way into millions of homes every year.

Have you wondered what happens, or what should happen to these gadgets and devices when they no longer work or have reached the end of their useful life? Should you even care? What difference does it make? As a responsible consumer you must care – because your purchase decision, what you buy and who you buy it from has an impact on the environment. As a responsible consumer you must support producers who comply with environmental laws and regulations and have policies and processes that support sustainable and cleaner production.

Your electrical and electronic gadgets – which are called e-waste when they are end of life, must be handled properly, lest they end in our landfills. E-waste contains hazardous materials and chemicals that pose a danger to the environment if they are discarded to landfill without proper treatment or decontamination. So where does my laptop/cell phone/tablet/kettle/CFL lamp go when it dies, you may ask?

?Fortunately, the South African constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to a clean and healthy environment and has stringent laws on waste management. South Africa recently published Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations. The EPR Regulations place the responsibility of waste management on producers by requiring them to take ownership of the end-of-life of products they put onto the market. It requires that all importers, manufacturers, producers, distributors, and retailers ensure that their products are treated responsibly and diverted from landfill when they reach their end of life.

?This means that producers can't just produce any kind of environmentally damaging products without worrying what will happen once that product is discarded. Responsible consumers must support producers who are EPR compliant and have mandated Takeback schemes for their products when they reach end of life.

?So now, lets unpack Recycler Journeys. It all starts with a Producer who manufacturers a product. For the purposes of this discussion we are referring to ICT and white goods – for example cell phone, laptops and washing machines. These products are then distributed directly or through distributors or Importers to the end market – the consumers. The consumers will use the products until they break or they have reached the end of their useful life and need to be discarded. EPR Regulations require that Producers take care of their products “from cradle to grave” ensuring minimum harm to the environment – an in the case of e-waste ensuring that it does not end up in landfill.

?What happens to Electrical and Electronic Equipment when its no longer working or fit for purpose? There are different options available , and these options depend the condition , usability , age etc of the equipment. Can the equipment be repaired, refurbished, and resold back onto the market? Or its redundant, needs to be dismantled and harvested for parts? These are important questions to determine appropriate interventions. Responsible Producers have Takeback Schemes as mandated by EPR Regulations. Takeback Schemes are programmes established by Producers to “take back” their products at different stages of the product life cycle. Most electronic and electrical producers have schemes where they take back faulty equipment for replacement or repair. These programmes are normally done through the Warranty policies. Where faulty products are replaced with new ones, what happens to them? Instead of discarding them, some Producers may repair them and resell them at bargain prices or donate them to organisations like Taking Care of Business (TCB) who run repair and refurbish centres for electrical and electronic equipment. TCB recruits men and women from poor backgrounds and provides training in repairing electrical appliances, business management and entrepreneurship – setting up the students to establish own businesses in the townships. TCB is the quintessential takeback scheme that Producers can use with great success.

Not all products can be repaired or refurbished. Most of these products have served their purpose and have come to the end of their useful life. When this is the case, the next best option is recycling. Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) like eWASA have an extensive network of Recyclers and Collectors of waste products across the 3 waste sectors – who collect and process e-waste and other waste streams. Recycling comes in different forms. For example other products can be used , or used as an input to make other new or similar products. These products may be collected by recyclers, sorted , disassembled and broken down into their constituent parts which are sold separately to downstream Recyclers for further processing , beneficiation or disposal. Other products, however, have harmful fractions making it uneconomical to recycle. Examples of these products include vapes and e-cigarettes. These products must first be made safe – decontaminated and then disposed of safely as required by environmental and EPR laws.

The EPR Regulations underscore the importance of a circular economy – and advocate that when the product has come to the end of its life cycle that it is reused, recycled, broken down or recovered to make new and other products. This circularity creates new jobs and industries and reduces waste to the environment. The regulations also push for cleaner production and for products made up of parts that are recyclable.

So where indeed, does your laptop/cell phone/tablet/kettle/CFL lamp go when it dies? We hope that as a responsible consumer you have purchased your product from a responsible and compliant Producer who subscribes to an EPR Scheme plan with a mandatory Takeback Scheme for their products. We hope your equipment does not end up in landfill – but is feeding into the circular economy, creating jobs and uplifting lives.

Do you want more information on #EPR and #Recycling #E-Waste? Contact us and we will be glad to help. eWASA (EPR Waste Association of South Africa)

Dumisani Siziba Malcolm Whitehouse Lene Ecroignard Adri Spangenberg Linka Geustyn - Director