As electronic device usage continues to rise across South Africa, awareness around proper disposal remains limited, leading to the collection of electronic waste landing at below 1% in some South African regions.

EWaste Africa has partnered with Pick n Pay and ERA NPC to build an extensive, nationwide e-waste collection network. This initiative aims to make e-waste recycling more accessible to consumers while addressing South Africa’s growing electronic waste challenge.  

“E-waste is classified as hazardous waste, and yet the majority of it is still not being properly collected or recycled,” said Dr Mark Williams-Wynn, Chief Technology Officer at EWaste Africa. “When electronic devices are stored at home or discarded with general waste, toxic elements such as lead and mercury can contaminate the environment, with lithium-ion batteries having the inherent risk of self-igniting due to chemical reactions that could occur within the cells. Addressing this challenge requires both awareness and accessible solutions.”  

In 2022 alone, South Africa produced an estimated 530,000 tons of e-waste, yet fewer than 10% of this was properly collected and recycled. In light of the hazardous threats posed by electronic waste, e-waste has been banned from South African landfills since 2021. It has been established that despite a nationwide ban on the disposal of e-waste, between 90% and 95% of the material doesn’t reach recycling facilities. Instead, obsolete electronics are stockpiled or dumped, trapped in the grey zone between ownership and disposal.  

“Through our partnership with Pick n Pay and ERA NPC, we are building a nationwide e-waste collection network that makes responsible e-waste accessible to more South Africans than ever before,” added Williams-Wynn. “With over 95 drop-off points already in place and a target of more than 200 by 2027, this initiative is designed to meet the growing demand for safe and convenient e-waste disposal.”  

This collection network has been made as easy as going shopping – it is a completely hassle-free service for general consumers and it requires no bookings, fees, or paperwork. Consumers can simply bring their unwanted devices while running their errands, deposit the devices into the community containers, and walk away, making the process quick and effortless.  

As a simple guideline for consumers, any item that requires power from a plug, battery, or cable can be classified as e-waste. The collection containers are designed for convenient disposal of small household electronics, such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, chargers, cables, and compact kitchen appliances like kettles and toasters. They also accommodate all types of batteries, lighting products, and disposable vapes.  

As the network continues to expand nationwide, South Africans are encouraged to take advantage of this convenient solution and play an active role in reducing e-waste pollution and supporting a more sustainable future. “Our goal is to make e-waste recycling as simple as possible,” Williams-Wynn explained. “By placing collection points in everyday retail spaces, we’ve made it as easy as going shopping. There are no bookings, no fees and no paperwork — consumers can simply drop off their unwanted devices while running errands and know they will be responsibly recycled.”  

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