Our Projects
The following initial projects have been identified and are being implemented by WEEE are iLembe with support from our partners. If you would like to start an e-waste project or want to partner with us, please reach out.
iLembe E-Waste Collection Day
WEEE are iLembe are supporting an e-waste collection day on International E-Waste Day on 14th October 2023
Municipal Recycling Facilities
Most local municipalities in iLembe have a municipal recycling facility (either a drop-off or buy-back centre) in the early stages of being established.
By-Law Harmonisation
A study was done in 2022 to assess the policies and by-laws of the iLembe district and family of local municipalities, which found that e-waste is not sufficiently represented in local policies and by-laws.
WEEE Research
A primary research study is being undertaken with households and businesses in iLembe.
WEEE Awareness
A campaign is being developed to enhance WEEE awareness throughout the entire iLembe area and beyond.
WEEE Value Chain in iLembe
EEE PRODUCERS
Producers of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) comprise of those who either manufacture and/or assemble EEE, those who import EEE, dealers of EEE (e.g. between manufacturers and retailers), and the wholesalers and retailers that sell EEE to the end user.
- Manufacturers
- Assemblers
- Importers
- Dealers
- Retailers
EEE PRODUCERS
Producers of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) comprise of those who either manufacture and/or assemble EEE, those who import EEE, dealers of EEE (e.g. between manufacturers and retailers), and the wholesalers and retailers that sell EEE to the end user.
- Manufacturers
- Assemblers
- Importers
- Dealers
- Retailers
WEEE GENERATORS
WEEE Generators comprise of those who consume EEE and once the lifespan of EEE has been reached discard the item. While many EEE items may be regifted or donated, many find their ways into refuse bags where it is either being collected by informal pickers or ends up in a landfill.
- Industrial
- Commercial
- Residential
- Institutional
WEEE GENERATORS
WEEE Generators comprise of those who consume EEE and once the lifespan of EEE has been reached discard the item. While many EEE items may be regifted or donated, many find their ways into refuse bags where it is either being collected by informal pickers or ends up in a landfill.
- Industrial
- Commercial
- Residential
- Institutional
FORMAL COLLECTORS
Formal WEEE collection is generally done by waste management companies or directly by WEEE recyclers. Waste management companies do not undertake any dismantling or recycling activities. Depending on the type of WEEE, they either collect WEEE as part of their general service to clients, which is passed on to WEEE recyclers, or refer clients directly to WEEE recyclers.
- Municipal collection
- Drop-off sites
- Waste management companies
FORMAL COLLECTORS
Formal WEEE collection is generally done by waste management companies or directly by WEEE recyclers. Waste management companies do not undertake any dismantling or recycling activities. Depending on the type of WEEE, they either collect WEEE as part of their general service to clients, which is passed on to WEEE recyclers, or refer clients directly to WEEE recyclers.
- Municipal collection
- Drop-off sites
- Waste management companies
FORMAL WEEE RECYCLERS
All recyclers do some form of refurbishment and dismantling. Items that still have some useful life are refurbished. Those that do not, are dismantled and materials are separated, consolidated, and sold into end markets such as plastic recyclers, scrap dealers, or exported to global markets. Some recyclers have the ability to pre-process WEEE further using specialised equipment.
- Refurbish
- Dismantle
- Pre-process
- Consolidate
FORMAL WEEE RECYCLERS
All recyclers do some form of refurbishment and dismantling. Items that still have some useful life are refurbished. Those that do not, are dismantled and materials are separated, consolidated, and sold into end markets such as plastic recyclers, scrap dealers, or exported to global markets. Some recyclers have the ability to pre-process WEEE further using specialised equipment.
- Refurbish
- Dismantle
- Pre-process
- Consolidate
INFORMAL COLLECTORS
Waste pickers are mainly active within urban residential, commercial and industrial nodes. During their usual collection of plastics, cardboard, paper, cans and metals, waste pickers will collect WEEE when they come across items that have value.
- Waste pickers
- Landfill site reclaimers
INFORMAL COLLECTORS
Waste pickers are mainly active within urban residential, commercial and industrial nodes. During their usual collection of plastics, cardboard, paper, cans and metals, waste pickers will collect WEEE when they come across items that have value.
- Waste pickers
- Landfill site reclaimers
INFORMAL RECOVERY
Waste pickers first attempt to repair items that can be repaired and sell these items into the informal economy markets. If items cannot be repaired, they manually extract valuable fractions (such as metals) from the WEEE, usually by physically breaking apart the WEEE, which would then be sold on to scrap dealers.
- Informally repair
- Crude dismantling
INFORMAL RECOVERY
Waste pickers first attempt to repair items that can be repaired and sell these items into the informal economy markets. If items cannot be repaired, they manually extract valuable fractions (such as metals) from the WEEE, usually by physically breaking apart the WEEE, which would then be sold on to scrap dealers.
- Informally repair
- Crude dismantling
FORMAL END MARKET
Refurbished products are generally sold back to consumers directly by WEEE recyclers or related NPOs, thus re-entering the formal market. Certain materials are sold to downstream recyclers and/or scrap metal dealers, and/or are exported to global markets. Remaining fractions are sent to either general or hazardous waste land.
- Sale (refurbish)
- Other downstream (value adding) processors
- Scrap metal dealers
- Export
- Landfill
FORMAL END MARKET
Refurbished products are generally sold back to consumers directly by WEEE recyclers or related NPOs, thus re-entering the formal market. Certain materials are sold to downstream recyclers and/or scrap metal dealers, and/or are exported to global markets. Remaining fractions are sent to either general or hazardous waste land.
- Sale (refurbish)
- Other downstream (value adding) processors
- Scrap metal dealers
- Export
- Landfill
INFORMAL END MARKET
Products that are informally repaired are often sold into the informal market. Materials with value, mainly metals, are sold to scrap dealers in iLembe. Other materials with no market or low value, such as plastics and glass, are often dumped on-site.
- Sale (Repaired)
- Dumping
- Burning
INFORMAL END MARKET
Products that are informally repaired are often sold into the informal market. Materials with value, mainly metals, are sold to scrap dealers in iLembe. Other materials with no market or low value, such as plastics and glass, are often dumped on-site.
- Sale (Repaired)
- Dumping
- Burning