E-waste Programmes in GhanaPresented at the International E-waste

Collaboration (Ghana – Netherlands)

By:

John A. Pwamang, Director, Chemicals Control and Management Centre, EPA-

Ghana

Cindy Badoe, Deputy Director, Built Environment Department EPA-Ghana

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Presentation outlineIntroduction

The e-waste situation in Ghana

Programmes aimed at addressing the problem

Draft Strategy for Control and Management of E-Waste in Ghana

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IntroductionThe international trade in second hand goods has led to massive imports of near end-of –life electrical and electronic equipment into Ghana and other developing countries in Africa and Asia

These near end-of-life equipment become waste within a short time

E-waste has therefore become one of the major waste management challenges in Ghana

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E-waste situation in Ghana (1)The legal framework on importation of second hand goods is incapable of controlling the influx of end-of-life and near-end-life electrical and electronic equipment

A lot of E-waste are generated locally by various institutions, repair shops, industries and households due power fluctuations in the country and other factors, reducing the lifespan equipment.

There are no formal E-waste collection systems and the informal sector use “push cart boys” who move long distances within the city to collect E-waste

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E-waste situation in Ghana (2)

Recycling is done predominantly by the informal sector using crude methods leading serious adverse health and environmental effectsSome E-wastes are also indiscriminately disposed leading to pollution of water bodies and contamination of soil.

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Statement of the Problem (1)Lack of coordinated approach for collection, transport, storage and disposal of e-waste.

Difficulty in establishing the key players engaged in the informal trade and recovery of materials from e-waste.

Data on the adverse impacts of e-waste on human health and the environment is limited

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Statement of the Problem (2)Lack of controls of imports of used electrical and electronic equipment

Education and awareness creation programmes are inadequate

Inadequate facilities for final disposal of the hazardous portions of E-waste

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Statement of the Problem (3)Lack of knowledge and skills in proper sorting and collection of E-waste

No guidance manuals to provide a framework or basis for national plans to address e-waste

Lack of policies and legislative framework to address current e-waste problems.

No comprehensive collection and recycling services for e-waste

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Recovered wires

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Dumping on the banks of Korle Lagoon, Accra

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The Ghana E-Waste ProgrammeTo conduct an assessment of the country situation of e-waste, develop national policies for re-use, repair, refurbishment and recycling and capacity building to implement these policies.To support national and local initiatives to divert end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment from dumping towards sustainable re-use and recycling operations to protect human health and the environment.To raise public awareness on the environmentally sound management of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment.

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Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (1)The VROM-Inspectorate (VI-Netherlands), EPA-Ghana, CEPS-Ghana, GPHA-Ghana signed a Joint Work Programme on 2nd April 2009 to collaborate to improve and facilitate enforcement and compliance and to prevent import and dumping of e-waste into Ghana. Provides for a structure for information exchange between EPA, CEPS, GPHA and VI to guarantee the mutual understanding of Ghanaian and Dutch legislation and working procedures.The cooperation also seeks to improve collection and recycling of E-waste in Ghana

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Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (2)Conducted a feasibility study on the possibilities for setting up recycling of e-waste (through private-public partnership) and reducing environmental harm of E-waste in Ghana.

A delegation of Ghanaian officials from EPA, CEPS and GPHA visited the Netherlands from 26-30 May 2009

The delegation visited Mirec at Eindhoven (an e-waste processing company), offices of Dutch Customs, the Ministry of VROM and the ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam

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Ghana Netherlands Cooperation (3)The delegation also met the President of the NVMP -the Dutch Association for the Disposal of Metal and Electrical Products, and discussed a visit to Ghana and the intention of the NVMP to finance a study on e-waste management in Ghana

The visit facilitated exchange of information on procedures and practices concerning the enforcement of transboundary waste trade.

The Ghanaian Minister also visited the Netherlands and held discussions with her Dutch counterpart on assistance of the Dutch Ministry to the Ghanaian Ministry.

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The E-Waste Africa Project (1)To improve the level of information available on flows of e-waste and e-products being imported to West African countries and other countries to improve decision-making.

To increase the capacity of parties to the Basel Convention in West Africa to manage e-waste and end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment at the national level and prepare national environmentally sound management plans.

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The E-Waste Africa Project (2)To study the feasibility of establishing environmentally sound materials recovery operations and promoting ESM in the context of the Basel Convention in a major informal e-waste recycling area in Africa (Ghana Netherlands collaboration)

To enhance the capacity of Parties to the Basel Convention to monitor and control transboundary movements of e-waste and prevent illegal traffic.

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Other E-waste Related InterventionsGreen Advocacy (Ghana) and Blacksmith Institute of the USA – Conducting studies on health and environmental impacts of e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie-AccraPhilips Electronics – Focusing on recycling of Scrap Lead Acid BatteriesUNODC – Container Control ProgrammeRaw Materials Group of Sweden – Looking at training of informal sector operators on improved E-waste recyclingCHF International of Switzerland – Training on E-Waste recovery methods, health and safety and developing of E-waste GuidelinesInterpol – Collaboration on control of exports of E-wastes

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (1)Policy & Legislation

Domestication of Chemicals and Waste Related Conventions in National Law

Technical Committee on Waste Shipment Prevention (TCWSP)

Adoption of EU WEEE Guidelines

Extended Producer Responsibility

Mandatory Registration of E-Waste Recycling Companies/Scrap Dealers

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (2)Business & Financing

Consult with major manufacturers and local dealers of electrical and electronic equipment on implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility in GhanaEstablish e-waste fund to finance e-waste programmes. Adopt economic instruments including fees on new and used electrical and electronic equipment to feed the e-waste management fund.Mandatory registration and licensing of scrap dealers could facilitate their access to credit

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (3)Technology & Skills

Design and build a demonstration centre to promote improved e-waste dismantling and refurbishment

Develop facility for the temporary storage of hazardous components of e-waste (e.g. CRTs, etc.) and other hazardous wastes and arrange for final disposal in an environmentally sound manner.

Develop section of an existing waste disposal site to receive some of the hazardous components of e-waste and other hazardous wastes.

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (4)Technology and Skills Continued

Establish collection centres (to be managed by interested/qualified members of the scrap dealers/refurbishers associations) to be located at various vantage points in the countryPromote establishment of community based recycling centresTrain e-scrap recycling operators on health and safetySeek collaboration with E-waste recycling companies in the Netherlands and other developed countries to receive and process some E-Waste fractions from Ghana (e.g. Mother boards)

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (5)Marketing, Awareness and Education

Hold consultations with of scrap dealers, refurbishers and key stakeholders on draft e-waste management strategy and prepare implementation plans for various components

Continue to investigate the environmental and health impacts of current e-waste practices

Hold sensitization programmes for policy-makers (e.g. Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology), to promote the promulgation of legislation on control and management of e-waste and other hazardous waste.

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Draft Ghana E-Waste Strategy (6)Marketing, Awareness and Education continued

Design and implement public awareness/information campaigns Design and implement information and training programmes for informal e-waste operators on environmentally sound collection, transportation, storage and dismantling e-wastes. Use a train-the-trainer approach to ensure that many informal operators benefit from the training.Use the print and electronic media to increase public awareness on the e-waste challenge

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