Electronics
Technical
E-waste legislation in South Africa
by Lene Ecroignard, eWASA
With electronic waste (e-waste) considered a growing problem world-wide, a group of concerned South Africans have formed a working group
to address these issues.
Initiated by a Swiss knowledge-
partnership with projects
in China, India and South
Africa, the working group
evolved into the South African
e-waste Association (eWASA)
that recently met in Greyton,
Western Cape to discuss
a blueprint for an e-waste
management system in
the country. The blueprint
follows after an initial situation
study completed in 2005 for
Gauteng. In that report the
existing legislation framework
to manage e-waste was
addressed as part of the system
parameters. The following is
a summary of that report’s
findings relative to legislation.
The South African Constitution
utilisation of the environment. The ECA makes and Tourism and the Department of Water Affairs
establishes basic environmental rights including
specific reference to waste disposal in Section 20 and Forestry (DWAF) in an initiative supported
the right to an environment that is not detrimental and defines the role of the Department of Water by the Danish donor agency. The action plans
to one’s health; just administrative action and Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in permitting waste developed under the NWMS initiative focuses on
access to information. These form the basis for the disposal sites. This responsibility is addressed the following:-
country’s environmental and waste legislation. through the formulation of the “Minimum
• Integrated waste management planning
The National Environmental Management Act Requirements” series of documents guiding the
disposal of waste by landfill. These minimum • Waste information system
(Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA) provides a principal
requirements state the requirements, standards • General waste collection
framework for sound environmental management
and procedures that apply in the permitting of • Waste treatment and disposal
practices for all development activities. Waste
waste disposal and handling facilities. .
management is provided for in the Act with • Capacity building, education, awareness and
principles such as polluter pays and cradle to New draft Environmental Impact Assessment communication.
grave. NEMA refers to avoidance or minimisation regulations under NEMA were approved by
Implementing instruments
and remediation of pollution, including waste Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk in July 2005.
reduction, re-use, recycling and proper waste The amended final draft was launched by the Priority areas that need to be addressed in the
disposal. Minister on 19 April 2006. These regulations were short term are: recycling, waste information
Gazetted on 21 April 2006 and came into effect systems and health care waste (HCW). “One
The Occupational Health and Safety Act on 1 July 2006. of the key objectives for recycling is to extend
(Act 85 of 1993) (OHSA) that provides for health and and increase the concept of recycling to other
safety of persons at work and specific regulations The White Paper on Integrated Pollution and
waste streams (apart from the ones already
Waste Management outlines the principles
that deal with waste management should also in place) where recycling opportunities exist.
for the allocation of environmental and waste
be considered as a background to specific The South African e-waste recycling initiative
management functions as well as powers for
legislation dealing with e-waste management. therefore presents such an opportunity.” Widmer
national, provincial and local governments. The
& Lombard 2005.
The primary objective of The Environment National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS)
Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989) (ECA) is to and action plans followed, through a joint venture Healthy living and working conditions are
provide for the effective protection and controlled between the Department of Environmental Affairs provided for under the Health Act: Act No. 63
EngineerIT - October 2006 47
Why e-waste is considered hazardous waste Due to the long half-life in the body, cadmium loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue,
can easily be accumulated in amounts sleeplessness, irritability and headache.
Computers and other electronic equipment
that cause symptoms of poisoning. Acute Continued excessive exposure, as in an
are manufactured from natural as well as
exposure to cadmium fumes causes flu-like industrial setting, can affect the kidneys.
man-made materials. While some naturally
symptoms of weakness, fever, headache,
occurring substances, such as chromium, are It is particularly dangerous for young children
chills, sweating and muscular pain. The
relatively harmless in nature, their use in the because it can damage nerves and cause
primary health risks of long term exposure are
manufacture of electronic equipment often brain and blood disorders.
lung cancer and kidney damage.
results in compounds which are toxic being
Mercury is one of the most toxic yet widely
especially harmful to human health and the CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are compounds
used metals in the production of electrical
environment if not disposed of carefully. composed of carbon, fluorine, chlorine,
and electronic applications. It is a toxic heavy
and sometimes hydrogen. Used mainly in
Arsenic is a poisonous metallic element which metal that bioaccumulates causing brain
cooling units and insulation foam, it has
is present in dust and soluble substances. and liver damage if ingested or inhaled.
been phased out because when released
Chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to In electronics and electrical appliances,
into the atmosphere, it accumulates in the
various diseases of the skin and decrease mercury is concentrated in batteries, some
stratosphere and has a deleterious effect on
nerve conduction velocity and can cause switches and thermostats, mercury vapour
the ozone layer, which results in an increased
lung cancer. and fluorescent lamps.
incidence of skin cancer in humans and in
Barium is a metallic element that is used in genetic damage to many other organisms. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class
sparkplugs, fluorescent lamps and “getters” in of organic compounds use in a variety of
Chromium and its oxides are widely used
vacuum tubes. Being highly unstable in the applications, including dielectric fluids for
because of their high conductivity and anti
pure form, it forms poisonous oxides when capacitors and transformers, heat transfer
corrosive properties. While some forms of
in contact with air. Short-term exposure to fluids and as additives in adhesives and
chromium are non toxic, Chromium (VI) is
barium could lead to brain swelling, muscle plastics.
easily absorbed in the human body and can
weakness, damage to the heart, liver and
produce various toxic effects within cells. Most PCBs have been shown to cause cancer
spleen.
chromium (VI) compounds are irritating to in animals and a number of serious non-
Beryllium has been classified as a human eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Chronic cancer health effects in animals, including
carcinogen since exposure to it can cause exposure to chromium (VI) compounds can effects on the immune system, reproductive
lung cancer. The primary health concern is cause permanent eye injury, unless properly system, nervous system, endocrine system
inhalation of beryllium dust, fumes or mist. treated. Chromium VI may also cause DNA and other health effects. PCBs are persistent
Workers who are constantly exposed to damage. contaminants in the environment.
beryllium, even in small amounts, and who
Dioxins and furans are a family of chemicals Due to the high lipid solubility and slow
become sensitised to it can develop chronic
comprising 75 different types of dioxin metabolism rate of these chemicals, PCBs
beryllium disease (beryllicosis) - a disease
compounds and 135 related compounds accumulate in the fat-rich tissues of almost
which primarily affects the lungs. Exposure to
known as furans. “Dioxins” refer to the family all organisms (bioaccumulation). The use
beryllium causes a form of skin disease that
of compounds comprising polychlorinated of PCBs is prohibited in OECD countries,
is characterised by poor wound healing and
dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated however, due to its wide use in the past, it still
wart-like bumps. Studies have shown that
dibenzofurans. Although never intentionally can be found in e-waste and in some other
people can still develop beryllium diseases
manufactured, dioxins form as unwanted wastes.
many years after the their last exposure.
by-products in the manufacture of some
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most widely-
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) - the three pesticides as well as during combustion.
used plastic, used in everyday electronics
main types of BFRS used in electronic and They are known to be highly toxic to animals
and appliances, household items, pipes,
electrical appliances are polybrominated and humans because they bio-accumulate
upholstery etc. PVC is hazardous because
biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether in the body and can lead to malformations
it contains up to 56% chlorine which when
and tetrabromobisphenol - A BFRs have been of the foetus, decreased reproduction and
burned produces large quantities of
found in indoor dust and air through migration growth rates and impairment of the immune
hydrogen chloride gas, which combine with
and evaporation from plastics. Combustion system,among other things.
atmospheric moisture to form hydrochloric
of halogenated case material and printed
Lead is the fifth most widely used metal acid which when inhaled, leads to respiratory
wiring boards at lower temperatures releases
after iron, aluminium, copper and zinc. It problems.
toxic emissions including dioxins which can
is commonly used in the electrical and
lead to severe hormonal disorders. Major Selenium exposure to high concentrations of
electronics industry in solder, lead-acid
electronic manufacturers have begun to selenium compounds cause selenosis.
batteries, electronic components, cable
phase out BFRs because of their toxicity.
sheathing, in the glass of CRTs, etc. Short-term The major signs of selenosis are hair loss, nail
Cadmium components may have serious exposure to high levels of lead can cause brittleness, and neurological abnormalities
impacts on the kidneys. Cd is adsorbed vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, coma or (such as numbness and other odd sensations
through respiration and taken up with food. even death. Other symptoms are appetite in the extremities). Source: www.ewaste.ch
48 October 2006 - EngineerIT
this Act pertinent. Section 20 places the importers/distributors to take back old and end-
obligation on local authorities to ensure that of life products. In a successful system, the
their areas of jurisdiction are maintained in focus will be on reduce, repair, reuse, recycle
a clean hygienic condition. Sections 34 and effectively, minimising waste and hazardous
38 authorise the minister of health to make waste disposal. A visible advanced recycling
regulations which have relevance to waste fee (ARF) will be charged from the producer
management. down to the consumer. These funds will be used
to fund the logistics of an e-waste management
Many substances contained in e-waste are system and the non-economically viable part
considered hazardous waste and these are of e-waste recycling as well as final disposal of
listed in Annex 1 of The Basel Convention for material that cannot be recycled.
the Control of Transboundary Movement of
The ARF will be adjusted according to market
Hazardous Waste. South Africa is a party to the
forces to ensure that it is as low as possible at all
Convention which came into force in 1992
times. The funds will be managed by an industry
and currently has 162 parties world-wide. As
body/initiative similar to Swiss Association for
a party to the convention the South African
Information, Communications and Organisation
government is obliged to develop national Technology (SWICO) in Switzerland. A third party
legislation in line with the provisions of the will audit the operation of the system to ensure
convention. that the system is not abused.
The Hazardous Substances Act: Act No. 15 of See http://www.e-waste.org.za/report.htm for
1973 provides the regulations to control the the full Gauteng e-Waste Report and Appendix
management of hazardous substances and 3 to the report for a full list of the existing South
the disposal of hazardous waste. African legislative framework with regard to the
hazardous substances contained in e-waste.
With this background the eWASA Blueprint for
e-Waste Management in South Africa Contact Lene Ecroignard, eWASA,
of 1977. The potential health risk implications of envisages an industry-led take back system Tel (012) 349-1130,
waste and specifically hazardous waste make with legislative requirements for producers/ lene@baselpretoria.org.za ☐
EngineerIT - October 2006 49