E-waste legislation could receive an overhaul, following the drafting of conditions to provide greater control over the importing and exporting of electronic goods in the country.

Spokesman for the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Albi Modise says the importing of used or second-hand electronic goods into SA for various reasons has become a major challenge.

According to Modise, one of the tools in the National Environmental Waste Management Act is “extended producer responsibility”, meaning the producers of a certain product will be held responsible for the whole life cycle of that product. “This includes the recycling, treatment or disposal of the waste that resulted from that product,” says Modise. [more ITWeb]