Ghana generates over 150,000 tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE, or e-waste) annually. This is in addition to end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment imported into the country.
The safe handling and disposal of e-waste is a challenge for policymakers and for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies. Attempts by scrap metal scavengers to retrieve precious metal components from e-waste present enormous environmental challenges, particularly in Accra, due to pollution from burning, especially of copper cables. In addition, scavengers are exposed to hazardous elements such as lead, mercury and phosphorus. This project aims to develop a sustainable e-waste management system that makes e-waste re-usable and recyclable.
