Teaching e-waste recycling to create jobs for men in iLembe

Unemployed men in iLembe will soon have the opportunity to join in on an e-waste recycling project which hopes to create jobs and a circular economy.

Electronic waste is a pressing worldwide problem that is growing in South Africa. It is estimated that only 10% of waste is being recycled.

Similarly, unemployment continues to rise, and more than 32% of adults do not have a steady income.

To address this, the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI), is starting a programme in 5 countries funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO).

Through it they aim to create provisions for a circular economy, while helping both unemployment and the threat of climate change.

One facet of the programme is an e-waste recycling project where unemployed men will be taught mechanical skills so that they can repair broken appliances.

It is soon to be launched in iLembe, overseen by the Appliance Bank (TAB), a Cape Town-based NPO which has already implemented a version of the project in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

“We are extremely excited to be onboard and honoured that the SRI team reached out to us to join the conversation and be part of this wonderful initiative. South Africa can only benefit from projects like the SRI that will create a more inclusive economy and contribute to sustainable growth,” said TAB chief executive, Tracey Gilmore.

The TAB project has been running since 2015 and last year it had 89 businessmen working who sold goods for a combined profit of R5.4 million.

In the same year, almost 22 000 units were recycled.

Faulty appliances can be gathered directly from source at a landfill or via donation from Clicks, Makro and Checkers, among many other partners.

It is unlikely that the supply line will cease, given South Africans each generate 6.2kg of e-waste a year – a total of 360 000 tonnes countrywide.

The men are then able to fix the products with the technical skills they have learnt and sell them.

“The pilot project in iLembe will also see the team work with the informal waste sector to collect e-waste via a newly developed app,” said Gilmore.

Ultimately, the aim is for these men to earn an income of at least R4 000 monthly in order to support their households.

The project is expected to start in the latter half of this year in partnership with Vuthela LED iLembe, iLembe district municipality, KwaDukuza and Mandeni local municipalities and the Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs department.