HP is launching a project to help African governments and local businesses recycle electronic equipment.
HP’s partners are the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and the Swiss Institute for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). They will come up with a recycling pilot and study results by summer 2008.
The project will support the development of a sustainable e-waste management system in African countries that takes into consideration local recycling operations. The initial phase consists of an analysis of existing practices in Morocco, Kenya and Tunisia, together with a pilot project in South Africa. “These countries require a specifically tailored solution. Given the number of people involved in the informal sector, we are looking to develop effective methods of dealing with waste that will allow this sector to flourish in a safe and sustainable manner,” said Dr. Mathias Schluep, project manager for Sustainable Technology Cooperation from Empa.
Re-using e-waste to create art objects
As the contribution of the IT sector to the African economy increases, so too does the demand for safe electronic products disposal. Africa’s leading provider of IT solutions, HP has seen its business across the African continent grow at an annual rate of 20 to 30 per cent over the last five years.
“The new and used computers that go to Africa are lifelines which enable a number of people to be part of the digital society who would otherwise be left on the sidelines. What happens to these computers at the end of their useful lives is a critical issue that we cannot simply ignore. Through our experience of working with local communities and with the support of HP and Empa, we aim to effectively tackle this very often neglected component of ICT in Africa,” explained Cissé Kane, DSF E-waste Project Manager.
“We see this project as an effective means to help local communities help themselves in dealing with electronic waste in Africa,” said Klaus Hieronymi, who heads the HP Environment Business Management Organisation for HP Europe Middle East and Africa.
“We hope that this initial analysis will enable us to create a widespread public private partnership (PPP) that will not only improve health and environmental standards, but also help disadvantaged communities across the continent by promoting skills and creating jobs.”
Art made with e-waste
HP is one of the main private sector sponsors of StEP, which stands for ‘Solving the E-Waste Problem.’ It is a new global electronic waste initiative of the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). StEP brings a number of international and national stakeholders together – including NGOs, governments, public sector agencies, private sector companies and universities.
Over the next three years, StEP will undertake a number of research and policy projects in order to develop and promote global e-waste recycling standards. As part of StEP, a team of researchers will also offer training to recycling operators in developing economies to help them develop effective, safe recycling practices.
HP has been recycling for over 20 years, seeking to reduce the environmental impact of IT products. Each month, HP’s recycling centres around the world process about 1.8 million kilos of computer-related hardware. HP set and surpassed a target to recycle half a billion kilos of electronic products and printing supplies by 2007.
