Keith Anderson, Chairman of the e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) announced today that it will present key findings of the national e-waste assessment study which took place during August/September 2008 at its National e-Waste Conference in Midrand on 7th November 2008.

The one-day mini conference will be held at the Plastics Federation’s Auditorium in Midrand and the registration form is available for download from eWASA’s website at http://www.ewasa.org/node/284

The conference programmes includes speakers form around the country that will present their papers on existing e-waste collection, dismantling and recycling programmes. Speakers include Alan Finlay from Open Research; Tessa Chamberlain (National Sustainability Manager Pick n Pay), Latetia Venter ( Eskom); Eileen Leopold (from the Electronic Export Council of South Africa), Susanne Dittke (eWASA) and Rory Little for Nokia.

eWASA recently launched its future business model at the 19th Wastecon in Durban which was hosted by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA). The company is working towards establishing a sustainable and environmentally sound e-waste management system for the country and will use the results of the baseline study to inform its collection, refurbishing, dismantling and recycling programme which should be running under full steam from early 2009.

The  e-waste assessment study tracks several kinds of e-waste products, including fridges, microwaves, washing machines, TVs, PCs, mobile phones, and printers. It outlines the key stakeholders in the ‘white goods’, consumer eletronics and IT sectors, the kinds of quantities that are being imported into the country, as well as what happens to these products when they are disposed. Key e-waste challenges are identified, and a national e-waste estimate suggested.

Furthermore the study presents the country’s first consumer survey into e-waste quantities – an online survey that attracted responses from over 350 people. This survey offers a useful indication of the kinds of e-waste that exists in the average middle-to-upper income household, how much of it is in storage, and how it is disposed.

Finally, through this baseline study eWASA could identify various existing collection, refurbishing, dismantling and recycling facilities that companies and households can already use to responsibly dispose of their e-waste. Please refer to the eWASA website for details of a collection point or service provider in your area under www.ewasa.org/ewaste/collectionpoints