Applying R-Strategies to Identify High-Impact Electronic Waste Solutions

Electronic waste including laptops, cameras, and cables in a recycling bin, ready to be reused, repaired or recycled.

Mismanaged electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) bears significant social and environmental risks in South Africa. Hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium and toxic plastic additives pose serious potential health risks for people and the environment. The ‘R-Strategies’ are an extension of the age-old idiom ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ to include more specific ‘R’ words such as […]

How Responsible Electronic and Electrical  Waste Management Benefits Your Business (and the Planet)

Various electronic cables, chargers, and adapters arranged on a wooden floor.

As technology advances, waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) —often called just e-waste—is becoming a bigger issue in South Africa. For business owners, managing this waste correctly isn’t just an environmental responsibility; it’s an opportunity for growth, savings, and ensuring a positive public image. Here’s how e-waste management done the right way can directly benefit […]

A Guide to Rethinking, Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Electronics for Businesses, Individuals, and Governments

Pile of discarded mobile phones ready for e-waste recycling.

As technology advances, the challenge of managing electronic waste (e-waste) also increases – ideally with a focus on reducing its generation in the first place. Properly managing this waste is crucial for protecting our environment and conserving valuable resources. This blog explores sustainable e-waste management and how businesses, individuals, and governments can take action to […]

How Big is the E-Waste Problem in South Africa and Globally?

A pile of broken and shattered smartphones, illustrating electronic waste.

Did you know that nearly 3.5 billion individuals, representing almost half of the global population, use smartphones? This figure continues to rise daily. This trend poses a significant environmental challenge, as manufacturing each device necessitates the extraction of non-renewable and polluting materials such as gold, cobalt, and lithium. These hidden treasures are just some of […]

E-waste Awareness: A Deep Dive into iLembe’s Recycling Potential

Close-up of electronic cables and multi-pin connectors, part of the intricate e-waste that requires proper recycling

In a focused attempt to promote better recycling habits, Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) closely examined how electronic waste is handled in the iLembe District by undertaking a household e-waste survey. Their findings revealed important gaps in knowledge and behaviours around e-waste, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This study points towards a more eco-friendly […]

Understanding WEEE: Categories, Characteristics, Challenges and Opportunities

WEEE pictured in a heap, including old cameras, phones and much more.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or e-waste is a growing concern in our modern digital era. But did you know that WEEE recycling is much more complex than other waste streams? That’s because it’s a broad waste stream that encompasses various types of electronic products, each with unique materials, values, and challenges. This blog […]

Advancing E-Waste Recycling in South Africa: The WEEE are iLembe Partnership Begins 

According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, 53,6 million metric tonnes of electronic waste (also known as e-waste or WEEE) were produced globally in 2019 alone. That’s equal to about 500,000 Blue Whales. Contributing to it’s share of the mounting crisis, South Africa generates about 6.2 kilogrammes of e-waste per person every year. However, despite […]