SITATION OF A GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY FOR ELECTRONIC
WASTE IN KENYA
A clean and healthy environment is of great importance to all members of any
society. With the rapid growth in global developments and innovations in
technology, electronic devices are a constant feature of everyday life.
Electronic waste can be defined as the discarded electrical or electronic devices.
This includes television sets, computer devices, domestic electronics like
refrigerators, microwave ovens among other devices.
Discarded electronics contain hazardous materials. If disposed improperly, they
pose a potential threat to human health and the environment. E-Waste accounts for
40 percent of the lead and 75 percent of the heavy metals found in landfills.
Although safe when used, once electronics are discarded in a landfill, the acidic
conditions provide an environment in which lead and other heavy metals may leak
out. If the landfill's liner fails, the groundwater supply may become contaminated
(National Environmental Management Authority NEMA 2013).
The Kenyan government has over the years promoted use of electronic program
information and communication technology (ICT) in all sectors. As a result, tonnes
of radioactive waste from the electronics have waste have over the years
accumulated, and now poses a threat to our environment.
As time goes by, the production of electronic waste keep increasing and hence its
accumulation. As a result, a sound and environmentally friendly methods of
management and disposal of the electronic is key to ensuring the prevention of the
future electronic waste related hazards.
The project study aims at finding the best location for the siting of a geological
repository, a site for the disposal of toxic materials contained in the electronic
waste.
The project incorporates the comparative study of the geology of the already
existing disposal sites with the possible locations of the possible site locations.
Climate, drainage as well as the long term geological processes like denudation,
seismology, climate change and ground water flow that could lead to
environmental changes and hence affect the process of the location of the site.
This has been done through collection of data from previous works and study of
currents situations in the study area with reference to socio economic activities and
political factors affecting the area.
The textural properties of the geological lithology of the area have been studied
and results referred for prioritization of the location of the disposal location area.