Africa e-Waste joins Gauteng disposal drive

Africa e-Waste has joined an initiative driven by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), and in association with the e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA), to provide the public, as well as businesses, an opportunity to dispose of e-waste.

The Gauteng E-Waste Collection Day, on 19 November 2011, aims to educate people on the safe disposal of e-waste, and provide a convenient and free means of disposal. Between 9am and 2pm, people and businesses can dump e-waste at any of 24 disposal points across Gauteng.

“The initiative, in addition to providing people with a convenient and free way of disposing of their e-waste, aims to raise awareness on the environmental damage, and legal implications, of the illegal dumping of e-waste. The destruction or refurbishment of e-waste, including white goods, is a specialised practice - and individuals need to have the facilities to safely and legally dispose of these goods. The Collection Day, the first of its kind in Gauteng, provides this outlet,” says Ulze van Wyk, MD of Africa e-Waste.

E-waste is classified as any equipment that runs off an electrical current - including batteries. From hairdryers to printers, fridges and vacuum cleaners - all these products require specialised disposal - and throwing them out with household refuse is not only illegal, but highly damaging to the environment.

“This is a wonderful industry initiative, and has seen providers coming on board and offering their services free of charge to the public,” says Van Wyk.

Organisations involved in the collection, hosted and organised by IWMSA, in association with eWASA, include Blue-C-IT, Xperien, WastePlan, Africa e-Waste, Pick n Pay and Desco. For information on the various collection points, please visit www.africaewaste.co.za.