With an aim to tackle the growing crisis of electronic waste, while creating jobs and restoring dignity to waste management, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) launched its e-waste recycling pilot project at Marlboro Community Centre on October 21.
The initiative is led in partnership with the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng Department of Environment, and producer responsibility organisations.

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Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts, who delivered the keynote address at the launch, described the project as a significant milestone in South Africa’s environmental journey. She said e-waste, discarded electronics like phones, laptops, and household appliances, contains toxic materials, such as lead and mercury, which pose serious risks to both public health and ecosystems if not properly managed. “In South Africa, we generate over 360 000 tons of e-waste annually, and it is estimated that at least 50% of this waste is generated in the Gauteng Province. Only a small fraction of approximately 10% of this is properly managed. The rest ends up in landfills, or worse, is illegally dumped, posing serious risks to our ecosystems.”

The pilot project is designed to reverse this trend by creating accessible drop-off points, engaging local small, medium, and micro enterprises, and educating residents on safe disposal practices. In Alexandra, where waste management challenges are compounded by informal trading and dense living conditions, the project offers a solution.

Masabata Mutlaneng, Head of Department for e-Government, said that e-waste is not just a hazard. It could have economic value, depending on how it is managed. “If addressed responsibly, it presents enormous opportunities for innovation, job creation, and sustainability.”

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She called for inclusive participation, especially from communities in townships, informal settlements, and hostels. She stressed that Alexandra residents must be empowered to contribute meaningfully to the technology ecosystem through recycling, processing, and reselling of e-waste.

Gauteng MEC for Environment Ewan Botha repeated the call for community ownership. He proposed the establishment of transfer centres and buy-back hubs in wards where space allows. “Wards cannot accommodate buy-back centres. Let us establish transfer centres, and for those that can, let us empower them with one or two buy-back centres to put that power back into the hands of the community.” He emphasised that waste should be seen as an untapped economic opportunity.

Swarts said the project aligns with South Africa’s national waste management strategy 2020 and the extended producer responsibility regulations, which place responsibility for end-of-life products on manufacturers. As the pilot gains ground, Alexandra residents are being urged to actively participate.

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