E-waste awareness increasing in Kenya

The WEEE Centre continues to raise awareness on the existence and dangers of e- waste and the importance of environmentally sound e-waste recycling at “Save the Earth” expo in Nairobi Kenya.

Electronic waste is an emerging public health risk in Kenya as the country is one of the fastest growing electrical and electronic equipment consumers. Kenya generates an average of 3,000 tonnes of e-waste each year from computers, monitors, printers, mobile phones, fridges and batteries among others. Lack of separation and poor disposal systems has led to mixing of e-waste with ordinary waste in dumpsites. However, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Centre (WEEE Centre) is at the fore front managing e-waste and spreading awareness to the Kenyan population about the same. Lack of awareness is rampant and the WEEE Centre takes every sensitization opportunity to let the public know more about e-waste and how they can participate in the WEEE Centre’s cause.

In November 2012, the WEEE Centre had the opportunity to exhibit at the ‘Save the Earth Expo’ at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi Kenya. The conference brought together stakeholders in a bid to create awareness on environmental protection and conservation. It was alarming to note that a good number of the attendees did not know what e-waste was while those that knew of e-waste were not familiar with the potential dangers. The WEEE Centre continues to raise awareness on the existence and dangers of e- waste and the importance of environmentally sound e-waste recycling.Photo: The WEEE Centre staff showed members of the public the recycling process while discussing the recyclable parts of the e-waste.