By Larry Claasen
South Africa e-waste regulations, which aim to reduce electronic waste, came into effect on 4 November 2021. However, in a recent interview with CBN, E-waste Recycling Authority (ERA) CEO Ashley du Plooy highlighted that many businesses have yet to embrace the regulations fully. This lack of enforcement is impacting the nation’s ability to manage e-waste effectively.
Business Response to E-Waste Regulations
In response to how businesses are complying with e-waste regulations, Du Plooy explained that it has been a mixed bag. Some sectors, like ICT, have embraced the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and have been active partners in compliance efforts. “Some sectors have embraced the EPR Regulations and have been great partners with us from the get-go,” Du Plooy said.
However, not all businesses have been as proactive. Du Plooy identified two other groups: those that comply minimally and those that hope the regulations won’t last. “Then there is the third group we call ‘free-riders,’ who would like to see the EPR Regulations not work out and wish that the regulations did not apply to them,” he added.
Challenges in Enforcing E-Waste Regulations
The biggest challenge, according to Du Plooy, lies in getting businesses to properly dispose of e-waste. For many, the struggle stems from a lack of readiness. “Regulatory officials and chief financial officers are struggling to get their companies to comply with the EPR regulations,” he noted. Since compliance was required by November 2021, some companies have a backlog in their EPR fees obligations.
Furthermore, some businesses claim they manage their waste adequately but lack sufficient evidence to prove this. “There are producers who suggest they’ve got waste from their products under control, but evidence of this is lacking,” Du Plooy stated.
Another challenge lies in the systems needed to track and report compliance. Since the regulations are still relatively new, many businesses lack the appropriate systems to facilitate proper reporting. “Because the regulations are new, not all producers have the systems to facilitate reporting,” Du Plooy explained.
Consumers, too, contribute to the problem, often lacking awareness about e-waste and its proper disposal. “For consumers, there is just a general lack of understanding, and priorities might be elsewhere,” Du Plooy said. This highlights the importance of education and increasing the infrastructure for e-waste recycling drop-off points.
Improving Collection and Disposal of E-Waste
Du Plooy emphasized that improving the collection and disposal of e-waste requires action from both businesses and the public. Drop-off points and buy-back centers are effective ways of collecting waste from both ICT and domestic appliances, but there’s still work to be done for businesses.
“The drop-off points and buy-back centers for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEEL) are a good way of collecting waste from ICT and domestic appliance products, as well as lighting,” Du Plooy said. However, there are gaps in infrastructure for specialized waste collection from businesses, such as solar power plants and battery waste.
Du Plooy explained that for commercial and industrial businesses with high concentrations of waste products, specialized collection systems need to be developed. “The consumer infrastructure will be inadequate for collecting this kind of waste,” he said, pointing specifically to the need for better systems for solar products and batteries.
Scaling the Impact of E-Waste Regulations
When asked about the potential scale of the e-waste regulations and their impact on landfills, businesses, and society, Du Plooy explained that greater compliance will help spread the cost of managing e-waste. “Scale of membership and producers that are compliant with EPR will help spread the cost of operating the EPR Scheme,” he said.
Du Plooy highlighted the strides the E-waste Recycling Authority (ERA) has made in raising public awareness about e-waste and its proper treatment. These efforts have led to increased public participation in e-waste collection. “Increased public awareness of e-waste and its proper treatment, an area in which ERA has made phenomenal strides, has driven up public participation,” he said. Du Plooy also noted that ongoing public awareness campaigns would continue to expand participation.
“In the same way that people are aware of plastic, bottles, cans, etc., we’re working to scale the awareness and increase participation in addressing these waste streams,” Du Plooy said. Public awareness is crucial in scaling the impact of the regulations and ensuring that e-waste is managed effectively.
