Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, Executive Director, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region (BCCC-Africa ) in Nigeria,

Transcription

1 Keynote presentation : Maximizing the Opportunities in E-Waste Challenge Towards Sustainable Development in Africa Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, Executive Director, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region (BCCC-Africa ) in Nigeria, Pan-African Forum on e-waste, March, 2012, Nairobi / Kenya

2 Introduction NEPAD has recognised information communication technology (ICT) as a critical factor in Africa s development. ICT helps to foster productivity and innovation as well as helping to achieve the MDGs. Africa has therefore been undergoing rapid advancement in ICT in recent years to bridge the digital divide ICT explosion is faciliated by the importation of secondhand or used computers and mobile phones from rich, developed countries especially Europe and North America as less than 20% of the African population can afford new EEE UEEE is valuable to socio-economic development of Africa as most ICT activities including cybercafés, educational institutions and small businesses depend on imported secondhand computers and mobile phones.

3 Africa and ICT Internet penetration Internet hosts Internet Users Africa World Europe USA Sweden Profile of Africa : According to ITU, about 2 billion people are on the internet, but too few in Africa. Internet penetration is low as 5.6% of the population (13% of global population) use the internet in Africa compared to the world average of 26.6 % However between 2000 and 2008, the number of users in Africa grew by a staggering 1,100 % compared to the rest of the world s %. Thus Africa is estimated to have one of the fastest if not the fastest internet use growth rate

4 Globalization of E-waste Dark Side of ICT Revolution Early obsolescence of electronic products is causing production of uncontrollable large volumes of e-wastes, million metric tonnes annually, fuelling near tsunami level export of e-waste from developed countries to developing countries thereby globalising the e-waste problem. The volume of obsolete PCs generated in developing regions is predicted to exceed that of developed regions by Yet developing countries lack the regulatory infrastructure and resources for the environmentally sound management of e-waste, and employing crude treatment processes which pose high risk to environment and human health especially vulnerable groups (women and children). E-waste has therefore become a global crisis, not only from the quantity, but also from various hazardous contents such as heavy metals and endocrine disrupting substances e.g. brominated flame retardants BFRs. E-waste is also a paradox as it is both a problem and also an opportunity as it also contains valuable ferrous (e.g. iron), non-ferrous (e.g. copper), precious(e.g. gold and silver) and strategic metals (e.g. indium, gallium) that are scarce and may be lost if e-waste is improperly processed as in Africa and other developing regions of the world.

5

6 Major E -waste Sources and Management In Africa The major source of e-waste in Africa: importation of admixture of used electrical electronic equipment (UEEE), near EoL, and EoL UEEE or e-waste from developed countries especially Europe and North America without testing for functionality both in countries of export and import Most of the e-waste exported from developed countries is exported illegally in contradiction to International laws (Basel Convention) or Regional (EU e-waste shipment regulation; Bamako Convention) There is a lacuna as the near EoL UEEE are not covered by existing international or regional conventions which makes near EoL equipment/device difficult to regulate and control. Crude waste management occurs in the informal sector of the economy such as dumping on municipal refuse, burning of cables to recover copper metal or open burning of digital waste to reduce the volumes, involving thousands of people ignorant of the hazard of exposure to toxins in e-waste. The most vulnerable groups especially children and women are actively involved in e-waste scavenging and crude recycling activities. Internally generated e-waste from consumption of e-products could be significant and often overlooked.

7 Major Challenges to E waste management in Africa Absence of infrastructure for appropriate e-waste management, Absence of legislation dealing specifically with e- waste, Absence of any framework for end-of-life (EoL) product take-back or implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR). Lack of a regional approach since countries have different approaches to the e-waste issue Inadequate public education and awareness on the problems associated with the uncontrolled importation of near-end-of-life and end-of-life EEE

8 In 2005 Africa generated approx. 2% of the worlds PC waste Region Mio Pieces Tonnes North America 36,7 807 Latin America & Caribbean 5,9 137 Europe 24,8 549 Middle East 2,0 45 Africa 1,6 39 Central Asia 0,9 22 East Asia 25,7 595 Total 97, Presented at R 09: Mueller E., Schluep M. et al.(2009). Assessment of e-waste flows: a probabilistic approach to quantify e-waste based on world ICT and development indicators. R 09 Twin World Congress, Davos/ Switzerland and Nagoya/ Japan, September.

9 However Africa s consumption of EEE is growing fast: PCs x10 and mobile phones x100 over the last decade Country Year Popula tion Imports installed base WEEE generated Mio Mio units/ year thereof used EEE Mio units units per 1000 people Mio units/ year tonnes/ year Ghana % ,000 Nigeria % ,000 Morocco <11% ,000 South Africa % ,000 Tanzania % ,000 Uganda % ,000 Source: Ghana (Amoyaw-Osei et al. 2011), Nigeria (Ogungbuyi et al. 2011), Morocco (Laissaoui & Rochat 2008; GIZ 2010), South Africa (Finlay & Liechti 2008), Tanzania (Magashi & Schluep 2011), Uganda (Wasswa & Schluep 2008)

10 This will in turn increase the amount of e- waste generated in the future No. of computers 1'200'000 future massflow trends 1'000' ' ' ' '000 0 Example Tanzania exponential growth ~9500 tonnes of computer waste 9500 tonnes of computer waste linear growth ~3000 tonnes of computer waste 3000 tonnes of computer waste generated end-of-life computers potential e-waste generation generated end-of-life computers potential e-waste generation Magashi A and Schluep M, 2011: e-waste Assessment Tanzania. UNIDO e-waste initiative for Tanzania, Cleaner Production Centre of Tanzania & Empa Switzerland.

11 posing various challenges to Africa throughout the material life cycle of EEE Import EEE Consume Collect WEEE Refurbish Dismantle Recover Lead Recover Copper Dump Photos by Empa

12

13

14 Evidence of Soil contamination from E- waste Processing Major environmental and human health impacts result from dismantling, material recovery and final disposal of e-waste Heavy metals contamination was observed in e-waste collection and processing sites in Lagos, Nigeria. The range of the concentration of the metals, with the mean of each metal at the top layer, are as follows: Cd (1.40 to 81.96, ±15.9); Cr (6.47 to , ±24.62); Cu (57.30 to , ±511.35); Ni (3.7 to , ±58.13); Pb (35.13 to , ±81.81) and Zn (97.87 to , ±29.15) mg/kg (dry weight). The concentrations were analogous to the results of similar studies carried out in Ghana by Brigden et al. (2008) and Wong et al (2008) in China. Downward migration in the soil up to 60cm was observed for Cu, Cr and Pb with potential contamination of ground water.

15 Brominated Flame Retardants endocrine disrupters linked to thyroid and liver damage neurotoxic effects cancer of the digestive and lymph system OEWG 7 Side Event: May 10,

16 Africa in the News as a Digital Dump Basel Action Network Raised the alarm in its film The Digital Dump Exporting Re-Use and Abuse to Africa of 2005 that Africa is once again the dust bin of toxic waste from developed countries, this time in form of e-waste compared to dumping of toxic industrial wastes in Africa in the 1980s which led to the establishment of 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal. This information has put Africa in the print and electronic media news internationally ever since It has aroused the consciousness of African governments and leaders to the dangers of e-waste as a threat to sustainable development in the region.

17

18 International Response towards ESM of e-waste Basel Convention COP8 in Nairobi (2006) focused on the theme of Creating innovative solutions through the Basel Convention for the ESM of electronic waste The Nairobi Declaration on ESM of E-waste and Decision VIII/2 were adopted. Multistakeholder Partnership Approach has been adopted as a mechanism for developing sustainable solution to the e- waste problem Examples are the Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative(MPPI) Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) approved by COP in Bali in 2008-developed tools for ESM of computing equipment waste and pilot projects on ESM of e- waste Solving the E waste Problem (StEP) Durban Declaration on E-waste Management in Africa 2008 Abuja Platform on e-waste control communiqué of an international conference on e-waste control held in July 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria

19 International response to ESM of e- waste Africa moved the adoption of E-waste as one of four emerging global policy issues at SAICM ICCM2 in Geneva in 2009 E-waste recognised also as an emerging policy issue in UNEP 2011 foresight process SBC e-waste Africa project which main objectives are: Enhance environmental governance of e-wastes in African countries; Build capacity to monitor and control e-waste imports coming from the developed world, including Europe; Protect the health of citizens; Provide economic opportunities.

20 Africa is moving forward - various activities and initiatives to solve the problem are on the way Studies Guidelines, policies, etc. Recycling pilots Etc., etc.

21 However progress varies greatly and the biggest effort still lies ahead (table not complete) Policy & Legislation Business & Finance Technology & Skills Monitoring & Control Marketing & Awareness Country Assessment South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Côte d Ivoire, (Liberia), Senegal, Morocco, (Tunisia, Egypt,) Ethiopia Implementation National Strategy Pilot Solutions shaping Solutions established South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Tanzania. Other?? South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, (Tunisia) South Africa South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ethiopia (Tunisia) Kenya, Morocco, South Africa (certain) South Africa South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana; Morocco, (Tunisia, Egypt)

22 Basel Convention Global Treaty on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their DisposalCame into force in 1992 Adopted on 22 March 1989 Came into Force on 5 May,1992 Currently 179 Parties* Goal: to ensure hazardous wastes do not damage human health or the Environment and are managed in an environmentally sound manner Required to be implemented into domestic legislation * Zimbabwe became a Party on 1 March 2012

23 Two pillars of the Convention Minimization of the generation of hazardous and other wastes. Obligations to ensure the environmentally sound management (ESM) of hazardous and other wastes globally, including through Control system for transboundary movements of hazardous wastes based on the concept of Prior Informed Consent (PIC procedure)

24 Ban Amendment The Ban Amendment prohibits transboundary movements of hazardous wastes covered by the Convention and intended for final disposal from OECD countries, EC, Liechtenstein to other countries. It also prohibits transboundary movements of hazardous wastes covered by paragraph 1 (a) of Article 1 of the Convention from OECD countries, EC, Liechtenstein to other countries and that are destined for reuse, recycling or recovery operations.

25 Ratification of the Basel Convention / Ban Amendment All African States except for two are Parties to the Basel Convention Botswana, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Morocco, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia and Zambia have already ratified the Ban Amendment

26 E-waste classification under the Basel Convention Hazardous e-waste A1180 (Annex VIII, List A) contains hazardous components or contaminated with hazardous components Non-hazardous e-waste B1110 (Annex IX, List B) E-waste that does not contain hazardous components or is not contaminated with hazardous components Electronic assemblies consisting only of metals or alloys Electrical and electronic assemblies (including printed circuit boards, electronic components and wires) destined for direct re-use and not for recycling or final disposal.

27 Some of the Challenges Ahead : What can Africa do with the WEEE polymer/plastic fractions? Recent studies by BCCC-Africa in Nigeria have estimated BFRsin plastics of end of life computer monitors and TV sets imported from EU and USA in the What plastic quality would be needed that producers could take back WEEE polymers? Can the OEMs define quality standards that recycling facilities need to meet for take back? (currently 20 plastic recycling facilities are planned in Nigeria) What polymers the industry can not take back? (BFR containing polymers?) What should Africa do with plastic the industry can not take back? What support could the global OEMs give that Africa can address and solve the WEEE polymer recycling and end of life management challenge.

28 Conclusion E-waste is an emerging environmental problem in Africa and the rest of the world. E-waste is a paradox of some sort as it has both beneficial and harmful effects. The organisation of this Pan African Forum on E-waste is timely remembering that we are just about 3 months away from Rio+20 where the international community would promote the green economy and waste as a valuable secondary resource. National, regional and global cooperative actions are required to find a lasting solution to the problem. Africa is at risk from the sheer volume of e-waste influx as well as internally generated e-waste in view of extant weak infrastructural,institutional, and regulatory framework for solid wastes and with none for e-waste. Recognising the nexus between environmentally sound management of wastes and chemicals and sustainable development, the uninterrupted influx of e-waste is a risk factor towards achievement of sustaianble develepment and attainment of millenium development goals in Africa.

29 Recommendations The export of used e-products to Africa and other developing countries should not be banned but controlled; as it provides opportunities for employment, poverty alleviation, recycling business, promote north south and south-south economic and technological cooperation, and bridging the digital divide. The present loopholes and abuses must be addressed urgently. Capacity building should be provided to African countries and appropriate institutions to promote ESM of e-waste. The Basel Convention, Bamako Convention, EU E-waste control laws and other relevant international laws should be strengthened; while African countries should domesticate Basel and Bamako conventions into national laws where lready ratified, and introduce national and regional laws on e-waste as appropriate and diligetly enforce them. UN agencies, development international organisations, and regional institutions including AMCEis, NEPAD, African Union, ECOWAS etc should support follow up programmes and actions agreed at this forum and the active involvement of Basel Convention Regional Cenres (BCRCs) and the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre (BCCC) in the African region. The economic opportunities and opportunities for technonogical innovation for national and regional development should be explored and maximised with appropriate environmental and health safeguards in place. Intense public awareness and education on e-waste issues should for all stakeholders including the political class, policy makers, NGOs, formal and informal economic sectors should be vigorously be implemented. The private sector especially the OEMs should advance and implement their commendable plan for sustainable e-waste rycling in Afrca while the governments should provide enabling environment and necessary incentives for industry to operate effectively.

30 20-21 July 2009 NESREA International Conference on 30 E- Waste Control, Abuja

31 Thank you! For more information visit our website: