A surge of temporary electronic gadgets such as cellphones, computers, chargers, and home appliances—which often fail quickly because of subpar construction—is causing an e-waste crisis in unprepared African regions, according to industry experts.
According to director general and chief executive of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) David Mugonyi, these are now undermining efforts to build a sustainable and circular economy.”A surge in the importation of counterfeit and low-quality electronic products and end-user devices which have a shorter lifespan and generate a large amount of e-waste, have aggravated the situation, and endanger the entire value chain,” said Mr Mugonyi, at the seventh edition of the East African Communication Organization (EACO) Regional Conference on Sustainable E-waste Management held in Nairobi.
In Kenya, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) estimates that the country loses between Ksh85 billion and Ksh100 billion ($653 million – $769 million) annually due to counterfeit goods, with electronic products being particularly affected.
Mr. Mugonyi attributed the inundation of markets with low-quality items producing massive amounts of non-recyclable waste to inadequate import regulations and insufficient enforcement measures.
Read: Rise in E-Waste in East Africa Raises Concerns Among Tech Providers, Linked to Public Health Issues
As per Executive Director EACO Dr. Ally Simba, the issue spans across the region. In 2019, Africa produced approximately 2.9 million tons of electronic waste, a figure which has grown steadily over time.
However, just a small number of countries in the area possess the necessary facilities for collecting, repairing, or recycling electronic devices. Informal recycling continues to be common practice in major e-waste hubs like Nigeria, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo within West and Central Africa, frequently utilizing hazardous methods including open-air incineration or immersion in acids.
“Given that millions of these products reach their end-of-life annually throughout this region, the pressure to manage proper disposal safely is increasing,” he stated.
Worldwide, an estimated 62 million metric tons of electronic waste was produced in 2022, as reported in a collaborative announcement made by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
By 2030, this figure is expected to rise to approximately 82 million tonnes. Shockingly, merely 22.3% of global electronic waste generated undergoes formal collection and recycling processes; in Africa, this percentage falls under one percent.
Stanley Kamanguya, chief executive of the ICT Authority, noted that Africa is fast approaching an annual e-waste generation of five million tonnes. “This is a serious obstacle to our goal of digital transformation,” he said. “It demands a fundamental shift—not only in how we manage existing e-waste, but also in how we design, use, and dispose of future digital devices.”He said to address this, Kenya has established a national e-waste management facility as part of its National Digital Master Plan. In the current financial year, the ICT Authority aims to collect 100,000 end-of-life devices from government agencies and offices in the current financial year.”We’ve already recovered 30,000 devices, and half have been assessed for potential reuse—whether for schools, NGOs, or repair training centers,” Kamanguya noted. “This is a small but essential step toward creating a circular economy.”Director of Environmental Enforcement at the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), Dr Ayub Macharia, said that only a handful of facilities in Kenya are currently capable of extracting valuable materials from e-waste, while the rest is often left as toxic residual waste.
As a reaction, Kenya introduced the Sustainable Waste Management Act in 2022, succeeded by updated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in 2024.
According to the rules, every producer is required to report the quantity of electronic products introduced to the market and provide comprehensive strategies for their reuse, recycling, or eco-friendly disposal.
A compliance deadline of May 4 has been set for all producers to register with PROs and submit waste management reports aligned with government regulations.
Other nations in the area are also adopting similar measures. Rwanda has newly established a national electronic waste disassembly plant with an annual capacity for up to 10,000 tons.
Maintenance and Recycling Centers In Ethiopia, the government has collaborated with UNDP to set up maintenance and recycling centers in urban areas.
Uganda has initiated an electronic waste recycling program with telecommunications companies, offering customers incentives such as service discounts when they turn in their outdated mobile devices.
During last week’s seventh regional electronic waste conference in Nairobi, specialists from throughout East Africa highlighted the necessity of standardizing e-waste regulations to promote inter-country collaboration aimed at tackling illicit disposal and easing trans-boundary recycling efforts.
Dr. Simba presented a comprehensive regional plan encompassing extended producer responsibility, promoting circular economies, and implementing zero-impact waste management approaches.
High-end mobile phone manufacturers have reduced their accessory offerings to combat the growing problem of electronic waste. As stated by Dr. Simba, “We should view e-waste not as garbage, but as a valuable resource.” He further explained, “It contains elements such as gold, copper, and rare earth materials—substances that can be reclaimed through appropriate technological advancements and financial support. By establishing suitable motivational measures, we could develop an industry that safeguards our natural surroundings while generating employment opportunities.”
Additionally, the gathering emphasized the critical importance of legitimizing the unregulated segment of this field. This area presently manages more than ninety percent of Africa’s electronic refuse yet operates without adequate protective instruction and apparatuses for worker safety.
It was recommended that governments provide technical assistance, establish legal structures, and offer small-scale financing to aid these workers in moving towards safer, more regulated recycling practices.
The United Nations has cautioned that electronic waste is increasing at a rate five times higher than what current recycling initiatives can handle. Without intervention, Africa could become a worldwide landfill for discarded electronics, posing threats to both its ecosystem and plans for technological advancement.
“This isn’t merely an ecological emergency; it also represents concerns over public health, economics, and equitable access,” stated Mr. Mugonyi. “Collective action with urgency and determination is imperative.”
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