Forum on Environmentally Sound Management of E-waste in
Latin America
Montevideo, Uruguay: 12 March, 2014
Smart Sustainable Cities - 2014
E Waste Management – Uganda’s Journey
Dickson Kwesiga
Uganda Communications Commission
Current Status
• The E-Waste Challenge
• Knowledge, Attitudes & Perceptions
• Policy and Legal Framework
• Current Practices
• Regulation at entry points
• Regional Collaboration
Current Practices
Existing Facilities
• Various Informal Recyclers
• Uganda Cleaner Production Center
• East African Compliant Recycling Facility
(Nairobi)
• WEEE Center (Nairobi, Kenya)
• The E-waste Solutions Alliance for Africa
(UK) – Pilot Project
Subscriber Trends
Mobile Subscriptions
17,500,000
17,000,000
16,500,000
16,000,000
15,500,000
15,000,000
14,500,000
Q1
2012
Q2
2012
Q3
2012
Q4
2012
Q1
2013
Q2
2013
Q3
2013
Q4
2013
Key Challenges in Uganda
• Rapidly increasing e-waste volumes
• Limited studies about quantities of e-waste
• Low level of awareness (& poor perceptions)
among consumers
• E-waste workers have little or no knowledge
of toxins in e-waste
Policy Strategies
• Establishment of E-waste Management
Infrastructure
• Awareness and Education
• Legal Framework
• Human Resource Development
• Resource Mobilization
• E-Waste Fund
Investments in Infrastructure
i.
Carry out ongoing e-waste surveys and assessment of
mass flows to inform e-waste management interventions
ii. To establish and maintain a data base for imported and
exported EEE
iii. Initiate and implement pilot projects, for collection, recycling
and treatment of e-waste
iv. Facilitate formation of e-waste collection schemes through
formalization, licensing & setting targets for each scheme
v. Provide training for e-waste scheme operators
vi. Promote take- back systems with incentives for consumers
vii. Promote EEE leasing for bulk consumers
Investments in Infrastructure
viii. Set up national modern dismantling and recovery facility in
partnership with the private sector
ix. Mainstream training in e-waste recovery and dismantling
skills in technical institutions curriculum
x. Explore options for disposal of hazardous e-waste
components, through treatment or sale to competent firms
xi. Engage EEE producers and original equipment
manufacturers (OEM) in strategic partnerships, including
buy back systems, extended producer responsibility and
setting up recovery and dismantling facilities.
xii. Participate in regional and international fora on best e-waste
management practices
Ongoing Policy Implementation
• Feasibility study to establish volumes of E-waste
• An e-waste management strategy was drafted
• Plans are underway for the establishment of a
manual E-waste dismantling plant
• In collaboration with the E-waste Solutions
Alliance for Africa UK, a pilot is underway for
establishment of an E-waste collection system
Thank You
DICKSON KWESIGA