Some of the senior national, KNCCI and Nyeri government officials who witnessed the commissioning of the E-waste centre. They include KNCCI Chairman Ibrahim Ndegwa, Nyeri County Public Service and Solid Waste Management CEC Ndirangu Gachunia and WEEE Director Dr. Tom Muchiri.
By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- When mothers of tomorrow are exposed to toxic compounds of e-waste, there are potential hazardous issues. Findings from many studies show increases in spontaneous miscarriages, still and premature births as well as reduced birth weights.
- Workers also suffer high incidences of birth defects and infant mortality. E-waste compounds are also carcinogenic. Toxic elements are found in blood streams of informal workers at dumping grounds of e-waste where open burning is used to harvest metals.
- The county government through the Department of County Public Service and Solid Waste Management has partnered with the WEEE Centre to launch this programme.
The County Government of Nyeri in partnership with Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has launched an E – Waste Collection Centre in Nyeri town.
Kenya generates over 44,000 tonnes of e-waste annually.
This includes items such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, printers, fridges, microwaves among others.
One unintended economic activity that has resulted from the dumping of these gadgets is the ‘mining’ of rare minerals such as gold, silver, copper and platinum.
However, these minerals are often extracted by burning the electronic waste. This leads to toxic and hazardous substances such as mercury and chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) which pose severe risk to human health and the environment if not handled in an environmentally sound manner.
When mothers of tomorrow are exposed to toxic compounds of e-waste, there are potential hazardous issues. Findings from many studies show increases in spontaneous miscarriages, still and premature births as well as reduced birth weights.
Workers also suffer high incidences of birth defects and infant mortality. E-waste compounds are also carcinogenic. Toxic elements are found in blood streams of informal workers at dumping grounds of e-waste where open burning is used to harvest metals.
E waste can contaminate ground water, soil and air.
Every device ever produced has a carbon footprint and is contributing to human made global warming.
The CECM in charge of County Public Service & Solid Waste Management Ndirangu Gachunia who represented Nyeri Governor H.E Mutahi Kahiga during the function noted that it is time to reconsider e-waste, for the benefit of the consumer, worker, health of humankind and the environment. The incredible opportunities found here are also argued to be for global environmental sustainability and shall shape a future that works for all in Nyeri County.
The same e-waste has a huge opportunity. There is 100 times more gold in a ton of mobile phones than in a ton of gold ore. Furthermore, harvesting the resources from used electronics produces substantially less carbon dioxide emissions than in mining in the earth’s crust. Working electronic goods and components are worth more than the materials they contain. Therefore, extending the life of products and re-using components brings an even larger economic benefit.
WEEE Director Dr. Tom Musili said there is also an opportunity to build a more circular electronic waste system, one in which resources are not extracted, used and wasted, but valued and reused in ways that create decent, sustainable jobs. In short, we need a new vision for electronics. This company sets out to work with SMEs, individuals, entrepreneurs, institutions, employers, associations, academia and trade unions, in a deliberative process to bring about change.
The county government through the Department of County Public Service and Solid Waste Management has partnered with the WEEE Centre to launch this programme.
This institution sets out to work with SMEs, individuals, entrepreneurs, institutions, associations, academia and existing waste handlers, in a deliberative process to bring about change.
Speakers present lauded Governor Kahiga for supporting this programme which is aimed at benefitting the people of Nyeri, mostly the youth who will be engaged in collection of the e-waste.
Others present were Solid Waste Management Chief Officer Violet Koigi, Nyeri Municipal Board chairman Jeremiah Ichaura, Environment Chief Officer Yvonne Mathenge, Chief Officer Julius Ringera (Roads), Chief Officer Joseph Kanyi (County Public Service) and Nyeri County Assembly Environment Committee Chairman Jackson Kabingu.
Others were Nyeri KNCCI Chairman Ibrahim Ndegwa, Nyeri Chapter CEO Martin Ndirangu, Nominated MCAs Fidelis Kanene and Emma Wangui.
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