A study was done in the iLembe District Municipality in 2022 to assess municipal WEEE management facilities to better understand if WEEE is integrated into these facilities.
At that time, most local municipalities in the iLembe region had municipal WEEE management facilities (either in the form of a drop-off or buy-back centre) that were in the process of being established. Municipalities indicated their willingness to see how these facilities can incorporate e-waste as a waste stream and provide additional collection mechanisms within iLembe for e-waste.
The study assessed the current and proposed facilities and identified that no municipally-owned or operated facilities accessed e-waste as a waste stream. The study also undertook an assessment of similar facilities in other major metros across South Africa. Other than the City of Cape Town, which has an established network of drop-off sites (most of which accept e-waste), the situation was much the same as within the iLembe region. Recommendations were provided around how best e-waste can be integrated into these existing facilities.
The results of this research form a core component of the Municipal WEEE Compass project, which was subsequently launched in 2024 to provide guidance to municipalities around how integrate WEEE into their existing waste management system (including facilities such as drop-off sites), as well as how to release assets (i.e. e-waste) from municipal stockpiles and how to align local policies and by-laws with the national legislative framework.
