Tanzania prepares to recycle obsolete ICT equipment

THE Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in the country is preparing a national system to dispose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment that has become obsolete. Talks are underway between the COSTECH and a UK based Digital Links which will be responsible for collecting and recycling the redundant ICT equipment in the country. According to COSTECH’s Director of Information and Documentation Mr. Theophilus Mlaki, the system which is scheduled to start next year is expected to preserve the environment as most obsolete ICT products are prone to some chemicals which are harmful to human health. Research has shown that, ICT waste contains substantial quantities of hazardous chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury, brominates and chlorinated flame retardant. The effects of lead on human health is well-known because of their recognized hazardous nature, this was first banned from gasoline in the 1970s. Mercury which is used in flat panel displays, poses another serious hazards. It can cause damage to serious organs like the brain and kidneys as well as the fetus if left exposed and placed in improper disposal ways.

Desktop computers like these ones will be disposed of in a sanitary way when they become obsolete. Tanzania government is underway for their collection for recycling.

Experts say brominated flame retardants are used in the plastic housing of electronic equipment and in circuit boards to prevent fire from spreading. These are potential endocrine disruptors which are persistent in environment and store in the fat of animals and humans. According to Mr. Mlaki, the preliminary procedure is to establish e-waste collection sites across the country which would be managed buy a disposing firm the Digital Link which would be working in collaboration with local partners. The system among other things would create a strategy for ICT users and suppliers to have an obligation of proper waste collection and management and by supporting this initiative, Tanzania will be helping to promote the future health of her environment The initiative will provide job opportunities for youths and people of all ages including men and women who would be busy collecting ICT waste products and earn payments. The experiences have shown that, even in the National ICT policy of 2003, there is no phrase that shows how Tanzania is expected to face environmental and social consequences caused by ICT waste. The system will work to ensure redundant IT equipment are either reused or recycled, preventing toxic metals from entering the solid waste stream or underground. There is no local manufacture of ICT in Tanzania and local dealers or agents import these products. There are no standards guiding the imports in both hardware and software, according to the National policy Tanzania is among developing countries with a booming business on ICT equipment which are imported, but it still lacks recycling policy and based on this experience the country needs to have its own recycling system. On the global level, the problem is a massive one, every year, 20 to 50 million tones of e-waste is generated worldwide. E-waste contains valuable materials such as gold and copper. But it has highly toxic substances such as lead and mercury.
Recycling of discarded equipment of that nature can bring health and environmental hazards unless there are adequate safeguards.

Old cell phones are among the ICT gadgets to be disposed of when they become obsolete
ICT equipment such as those computers and mobile phones contains hazardous substances that interfere with the lungs and at times expose people to high risks of contaminating skin cancer. The Digital Link would through this system expand its project of supplying refurbished computers in Tanzania schools from UK. Reports from Green pace International and the department of Biological Sciences of the University of Exeter in UK shows that as the market for electrical and electronic products grows rapidly, the lifespan of products is dropping. Dismantling of ICT equipment in Tanzania is currently typically carried out in unregulated small workshops without adequate working protection.