Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, launches the E-Waste Collection and Recycling Pilot Project in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
In a significant move towards sustainable waste management, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment launched the E-Waste Collection and Recycling Pilot Project in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, nestled within the O.R. Tambo District of the Eastern Cape Province this week.
Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts said the project aims to enhance waste management practices, foster environmental protection, and stimulate local economic development through effective e-waste recycling.
E-waste, which encompasses discarded electronic appliances, is recognised as the fastest-growing waste stream globally. In South Africa, over 360,000 tons of e-waste is generated annually, yet a mere fraction is recycled. The government's initiative to prohibit e-waste disposal in landfills, along with the enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, underlines a commitment to redirecting this waste towards encouraging recycling and recovery efforts.
