A project launched this week by the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), hopes to force the country to critically review its management of electronic waste (e-waste).
Experts say Kenya is truly a "cannibalistic" society - and no where is this more apparent than in the ICT sector.
Everyone who is anyone along the country's supply chain of electronics is a "cannibal," according to preliminary findings by a new study.
From vendors to consumers, the trend among Kenyans is to use technology equipment to its dying breath, then try and sell any of the surviving parts for any profit.
A by-product of this detrimental action is e-waste, which is rapidly gathering around the world in large amounts, including Kenya.
A project launched this week by the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), hopes to force the country to critically review its management of electronic waste (e-waste).
The first-of-its-kind project will seek to explore the economic opportunities provided by e-waste on the one hand and on the other address grave concerns arising from the toxic and non-biodegradable waste.
Around the world, e-waste is the migraine that keeps technology companies up at night.
Dealing with the waste that is created a few years after the colourful launch of a the latest fad is now taking a toll on manufacturer budgets, as they are forced now to dispose of the waste using their funds.
Just over a week ago, Nokia re-launched a take-back programme for any and all mobile pones, following in the footsteps of Safaricom who attempted to achieve the same goal a few years ago.
KICTANet hopes to provide an institutional framework to support e-waste management as well as a strategy to create the necessary infrastructure and mechanisms to support environment friendly practices.
The project will get funding and support from Hewlett Packard Corporation, EMPA, the Swiss Materials Science and Technology Research Institute and the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), an-International Financial Organisation for Digital Solidarity.
Source: Business Daily Africa
More about the HP/DSF/Empa initiative "e-waste management in Africa ".
