[DIGITAL Business Africa] – The Director of the Department of Environment of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Stephan Sicars, and Marketing Director of Government and Institutions at SGS, Linda Tang, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop national electronic waste management capacities.
Recognizing that the management of e-waste streams is of increasing importance for environmental sustainability, public health, inclusive economic growth, and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Stephan Sicars stated: “Within the context of inclusive and sustainable industrial development and the circular economy, the Memorandum focuses on strengthening domestic e-waste management capacity; It has the potential to create many safe, decent-paying jobs, while protecting the environment.”
Together, UNIDO and SGS will undertake efforts to facilitate storage services for informal e-waste collectors to store e-waste, thereby diverting it from open landfills. In addition, the partners will provide technical assistance for the safe and environmentally-sound disassembly of e-waste by teaching best practices and helping developing countries strengthen their institutional capacity for the proper management of e-waste.
SGS has created a self-financing, integrated e-waste management system, Renovo, based on the concept of ‘extended producer responsibility’ and the ‘polluter pays’ principle. SGS Renovo already operates in Ghana and has recently launched in Côte d’Ivoire. Several governments in Africa have expressed real interest in this solution.
“We are very excited that, through this innovative partnership, we will implement a sustainable self-financing solution to combating e-waste while facilitating the transition to an inclusive circular economy,” said Linda Tang.
By Digital Business Africa
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