Background

Zambia is experiencing an increase in the volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This is referred to as e-waste, the term that is used to cover all types of WEEE. E -waste, exacerbated by the high-level demand for electronic gadgets and subsequent influx of second-hand equipment from developed countries, many of which are old, near or at end of life.

With the lack of the needed investment, recycling technologies and facilities to adequately handle e-waste in an environmentally sound manner, e-waste is currently either landfilled, dumped illegally or burnt in Zambia. E-waste contains large amounts of heavy metals and other toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants, which when released into the environment due to inappropriate disposal, pose significant adverse environmental health risks to the local communities.

To address the continued e-waste challenges, the “Africa Environmental Health and Pollution Management Program” (EHPMP) in Zambia seeks to finance cleaner technologies and processes in e-waste management. The main objective of the project is to reduce Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (uPOPs) release in pilot sites and strengthen the institutional capacity to manage and regulate solid waste and e-waste. The project is being financed by a grant provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank as an executing Agency. The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is the implementing Agency of the Zambian Component on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.