Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE/E-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world today. It is estimated that the world generates over 40 million tonnes of e-waste annually. Globally, the use of electrical and electronic goods is set to rise sharply in the next 10 years. Improper handling of e-waste can cause harm to the environment and human health due to its toxic components. Several countries around the world have developed, or are in the process of developing, policies and regulations to deal with this emerging threat. International organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Basel Convention and StEP (Solving the E-waste Problem), an initiative developed by number of United Nations organizations, are providing assistance and guidance to deal with the issue.

ICWE Africa in partnership with Microsoft and support from UNEP, NEMA and the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources is organizing a one day conference for stakeholders to brainstorm on the challenges of e-waste in Kenya. The workshop will bring together the manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipments, consumers, international communities, the media fraternity and the e-waste experts to discuss the emerging challenges of e-waste in the country and chart a way forward for sustainable management of e-waste in the country.

The conference will be jointly opened Executive Director of UNEP and the Minster for Environment and Mineral Resources. Honorable ministers for Education and Information and Communication are also expected to attend and deliver speeches at the conference. The conference targets approximately 200 delegates.

Conference format and objectives

The conference will take a plenary approach and will be divided into four sessions. The first session will bring into perspective the problem of e-waste in Kenya and what needs to be done while the subsequent sessions will focus on specific themes. The conference will then end with session on the way forward for sustainable management of e-waste in Kenya.

The thematic areas to be addressed include the following:

a) Public and Private sector e-waste management

b) Recycling e-waste in Kenya

c) Producer pays: Manufacturer involvement in e-waste management

d) Policy framework and international conventions

The conference will seek to achieve the following objectives

a) Identify and map environmental impact of e-waste on Kenya.

b) Discuss capacity constraints on disposal of e-waste in Kenya

c) Discuss the collection system and recycling infrastructure of e-waste.

d) Promote multi-stakeholder partnership by involving manufacturers’ and private sector in tackling e-waste.

e) Recommend policy development framework taking into consideration International best practices

f) Identify and discuss positive aspect of e-waste such as job creation.

g) Formulate common stand and way forward on e-waste management in Kenya

Call for Submissions on E-waste (CLOSED)

In order to provide an opportunity for E-waste2010 participants, who are not presenting at the workshop to contribute to the workshop, submissions on themes relevant to E-waste are invited. If you wish to contribute to the discussion of e-waste issues, challenges, solutions, recommendations and perhaps success stories, this is an ideal opportunity to do so. Suggestions to establish discussion groups to address specific issues within the workshop program are welcome, and will be implemented if there is a significant level of interest.

Please forward your one page submission to e-waste2010@icwe.co.ke by 20 August 2010.

PARTNERS
ICWE	NEMA	GOVERNMENT	UNEP