This project aimed to create a framework for Small-Scale E-Waste Facilities (SSEF) in South Africa. The framework is intended to be a valuable tool for SMMEs, not-for-profit organisations (NPOs), PROs, and the public sector to better understand how SMMEs within the e-waste management space currently operate and can subsequently be best supported going forward. Drawing on both primary interviews and global case studies, it provides practical insights into how SMMEs can operate successfully in the e-waste sector, and how informal waste pickers can be safely, legally compliant and effectively integrated into formal recycling value chains.
This project was structured in two phases.
- Phase 1 consisted of the development of a ‘Case Study Assessment’ report to draw on global and local examples of small enterprises within e-waste management. The report analysed case studies from South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, India, Uganda, and Cambodia, focusing on facility operations, staffing, funding models, and the enabling role of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) within the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. It identified key success factors and common barriers that shape the viability of small-scale recycling enterprises, offering clear, experience-based recommendations for sustainable operations. The Case Study Assessment Report can be accessed here.
- Phase 2 consisted of the development of a ‘Framework Report’ that draws on insights obtained during the Case Study Assessment in Phase 1 to describe the overarching framework within which SSEFs operate. Specifically, the report includes an assessment of the WEEE market and industry in South Africa and relevant industry stakeholders, maps the existing policy and legislative framework, shares business model considerations for SSEFs, identifies key human resource requirements, and unpacks financial considerations. The integration of waste pickers is highlighted as a key element of SSEF operations.
