South Africa Marks International E-Waste Day, With Over 360,000 Tonnes Generated Yearly
PRETORIA — South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) joined the global community in commemorating International E-Waste Day on October 14, 2026, according to an APO Newsroom release. The day, marked annually on October 14, raises awareness of responsible collection, recovery and recycling of e-waste. This year's theme, 'Fast Tech | Don't bin it, bring it!', focused on small, inexpensive electronic products such as earphones, charging cables and mini fans, which are often discarded with general household waste instead of being recycled.
Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts emphasised the collective impact of small electronic items on the growing waste stream, urging households, businesses and institutions to support responsible e-waste management. South Africa generates over 360,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, with only about 10 percent estimated to be properly recycled, according to the department. Improperly discarded e-waste can contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium, posing risks to human health and the environment.
In response, the DFFE has implemented Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, partnering with producers, Producer Responsibility Organisations and local authorities to establish e-waste collection and recycling programmes across all nine provinces, aiming to make recycling more accessible, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities.
(Sources: APO Newsroom, South Africa DFFE)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Dietmar Rabich／CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
