The IT Association (ITA) will engage with the ministry of trade and tourism to find ways to better regulate the management of e-waste in the ICT sector.
ITA president Keith Anderson says the organisation is setting up meetings with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), to discuss ways the industry can better manage its environmental responsibilities.
Such a meeting follows the ITA's submissions to the DEAT on the proposed Waste Management Bill, which has been approved by Parliament, but not yet gazetted.
"The ITA recently received a response from the ministry of DEAT confirming their awareness and concern regarding the growing electronic waste stream," says Anderson.
He adds the department was impressed with the industry's willingness to find proactive solutions to dealing with e-waste issues.
"The ITA has been invited to present [its] industry-driven initiatives to the DEAT."
Anderson points out e-waste encompasses electrical and electronic goods that are dumped, usually in landfills, and potentially contaminate the soil. He says e-waste is also often burnt by people trying to access the copper within, a process that emits toxic substances.
Anderson adds e-waste management is not governed correctly in SA. "We are going to need assistance from government - it [e-waste management] needs legislative changes."
Learning from others
Meanwhile, the ITA has seconded a study group to go to Switzerland this week to study e-waste recycling plants in that country and interact with the UN's Stop The E-waste Problem initiative on best practice models.
"We need a working plan," says Anderson, who claims the industry will have to regulate itself in order to curtail e-waste in future.
Between 3 and 5 September, the study group will attend the World Congress on the Recovery of Material and Energy for Resource Efficiency.
In addition, Anderson says the industry is trying to quantify how much e-waste is dumped in SA, but maintains it is in the region of "tons" every year.
"For centuries, business was done without consideration for the environment. However, environmental issues have become a matter of public concern and the pressure to change our current behaviour has increased. Most of this pressure has been targeted towards industry."
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