Thursday 17 July 2008 - This week the e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) has been be formally established as a Section 21 company. eWASA will be responsible to set-up an environmentally sound waste management system for all types of e-waste generated in the country.

Review environmental laws to stem importation of electronic waste

Government has been tasked to institute stringent measurers to check the huge importation of electronic waste being dumped in the country. A laureate of the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 and Coordinator of a campaign dubbed: "Stop the Exportation and Dumping of Toxic Waste," Mike Anane, further called on government to review the nation's environmental laws and regulations to stem the importation of electronic waste.

E-waste (electronic waste) includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other items that have been discarded by their original users. While there is no generally accepted definition of e-waste, in most cases e-waste consists of expensive and more or less durable products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment in private households and businesses.
Why is e-waste a problem?

Portfolio Committee 1: Business and Financing

Investigating, negotiating, implementing and managing an appropriate financing mechanism for South Africa to ensure the sustainability of the national e-waste management
strategy.

Portfolio Committee 2: Policy & Legislation

Digital World - Proper e-waste management makes sense and cents

Like everyone else, I hardly give a thought as to what happens when my
computer, TV, digital watch or mobile phone ages. I imagine I probably
will give it to a friend or a relative who is not so privileged to own
one, that is if it does not get stolen. She will be excited to try out a new technology and I will likewise be happy to fiddle with a newer, flashier model. It is a win-win, hand-me-down culture we have practised over the years.

Through an ITA project eWASA has now formally been establsihed as a non-profit company. It will be responsible for the devlopment of an environmentally sound e-waste management system for the country.