WHERE DOES AFRICA STAND ON THE GLOBAL E-WASTE ISSUE? Side event at Basel/COP Regional Centers Fair Organized by BCCC-Africa/BCRCs in Egypt, Senegal and South Africa in partnership with the “e-waste African Alliance” May 1 st 2013, room #4 Prof. Mostafa H. Kamel Director, BCRC-Egypt

Quick Overview In 1995 Egypt was selected to host the Basel Convention Sub-Regional Centre (BCRC) “for Arabic- speaking countries in Africa, and in 2002, Decision VI/9 extended the geographic coverage to serve the other Arabic-speaking countries. Currently, BCRC-Egypt is serving the 22 Arab States in Africa and West Asia in addition to Iraq and Palestinian Authority. The Egyptian government instituted BCRC Egypt within one of the most outstanding academic and research institutions in the region; that is, the Cairo University. The Egyptian Ministry of state for Environmental Affairs (EMSEA) collaborated with the Cairo University in the physical establishment and operation of the centre.

Algeria الجزائر Bahrain البحرين Comoros جزر القمر Egypt مصر Jordan الاردن Kuwait الكويت Lebanon لبنان Libya ليبيا Mauritania موريتانيا Morocco المغرب Oman عمان Saudi Arabia السعودية Syria سوريا Tunisia تونس UAE الامارات Yemen اليمن Qatar قطر Sudan السودان BCRC-Egypt Iraq العراق Djibouti جيبوتى Somalia الصومال Palestinian Authority السلطة الفلسطينية

? 2004 – 2006 Landfill Project Finland Funded Project Phase I BCRC-Egypt Activities BCRC-Egypt Activities Phase II-Pending

Activities 1. Sound management of HW, 1. Sound management of HW, 2. The Basel Convention and its protocol on liability and compensation, 2. The Basel Convention and its protocol on liability and compensation, 3. Landfills, inventory of HW, illegal traffic, liquid HWM, 3. Landfills, inventory of HW, illegal traffic, liquid HWM, 4. E-waste assessment, and 4. E-waste assessment, and 5. Many other issues of HWM. 5. Many other issues of HWM. 6. The activities included more than 17 training workshops and 15 pilot projects. 6. The activities included more than 17 training workshops and 15 pilot projects.

Activities (continue.) BCRC-Egypt developed and published guidelines adapted for the region on: landfills, used oils, liquid HW, and on conducting national inventories for HW. BCRC-Egypt developed and published guidelines adapted for the region on: landfills, used oils, liquid HW, and on conducting national inventories for HW. BCRC-Egypt translated into Arabic, with Swiss funds, the Guidelines on used and end-of-life mobile phones prepared by the Mobile Phones Partnership Initiative (MPPI) of BC/UNEP. BCRC-Egypt translated into Arabic, with Swiss funds, the Guidelines on used and end-of-life mobile phones prepared by the Mobile Phones Partnership Initiative (MPPI) of BC/UNEP. The Centre is regularly publishing a bi-annual newsletter promoting public awareness and exposing emerging HWM related issues. The Centre is regularly publishing a bi-annual newsletter promoting public awareness and exposing emerging HWM related issues.

Activities (continue.) BCRC-Egypt has been cooperating with regional organizations like UNEP/MAP, UNEP/ROWA, the international inter- governmental organization CEDARE (Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe), and RAC/CP of Barcelona in implementing its activities throughout the period BCRC-Egypt has been cooperating with regional organizations like UNEP/MAP, UNEP/ROWA, the international inter- governmental organization CEDARE (Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe), and RAC/CP of Barcelona in implementing its activities throughout the period BCRC-Egypt is actively participating in the activities of the Basel Convention Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE). BCRC-Egypt is actively participating in the activities of the Basel Convention Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE). Networking of the BCRC-Egypt with other BCRCs, UN bodies, and Regional Organizations with common interest is ongoing and will be an emerging and important issue that will be further strengthened and explored in view of resource mobilization and the transfer of knowhow to the countries of the region. Networking of the BCRC-Egypt with other BCRCs, UN bodies, and Regional Organizations with common interest is ongoing and will be an emerging and important issue that will be further strengthened and explored in view of resource mobilization and the transfer of knowhow to the countries of the region.

GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative) : a global partnership of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies that promotes technologies for a sustainable development. GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative) : a global partnership of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies that promotes technologies for a sustainable development. StEP – an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and the science sector actively participating in StEP, StEP – an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and the science sector actively participating in StEP, UNESCO Computer equipment recycling guidelines for Africa UNESCO Computer equipment recycling guidelines for Africa Partnership on used and end of life Mobile Phones (MPPI) – Basel Convention Partnership on used and end of life Mobile Phones (MPPI) – Basel Convention Current interest in e-waste and related Initiatives

Global Partnership on Computing Equipment (PACE) - Basel Convention Global Partnership on Computing Equipment (PACE) - Basel Convention Basel Convention Mobil Phone Partnership (MPPI) Basel Convention Mobil Phone Partnership (MPPI) CEDARE E-waste Forum: Circulating Success. CEDARE E-waste Forum: Circulating Success. Asia Pacific Initiation on Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic and Electrical Wastes. Asia Pacific Initiation on Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic and Electrical Wastes. Many other initiatives by manufacturers for recycling end of life products belong to them. (corporate responsibilities; e.g. hp, Canon, …..) Many other initiatives by manufacturers for recycling end of life products belong to them. (corporate responsibilities; e.g. hp, Canon, …..) All these initiatives work enthusiastically towards promoting sound management practices to avoid impacts of e-wastes.

E-Waste: Overview e-waste became a priority among many countries in the region, e.g. Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. Pilot assessment of the e-waste and e- waste recycling facilities conducted in selected countries Algeria, Egypt by national staff with limited resources from BCRC-Egypt project. More countries are planning for e-waste assessment projects and management measures. BCRC-Egypt started to promote e-waste awareness issues via its newsletter and through media interviews and newspapers articles. Main issues highlighted on E- waste as source hazardous wastes.

Status of e-waste collection and recycling The collection of e-waste is still based on scattered activities in the country by different young entrepreneurs and NGOS as there is no concrete supply chain mapping in Egypt. Some initiatives have been formed between NGOs (RESALA) and EE suppliers (eg NOKIA) to collect used mobile phones for recycling

– The number of mobile phone subscribers increased from 4.3 Millions in 2001 to approximately 24 Millions in 2007, and to 44 Millions in – Number of internet subscribers reached 13 Millions in March – Growth in the ICT sector in Egypt exceeds 20% during 2007 and 2008 and expected to be 15% for 2009 affected by the global financial crisis. – Import of used personal computers and CRT monitors increased dramatically since 2001 (number increased approximately 6-8 times in five years). E-Waste status in selected countries in Egypt

During 2007, the Minister of Trade and Industry has issued a decree prohibiting importing personal computers that are older than 5 years (it was 10 years before) Few collection programs for end of life mobile phone batteries initiated by local mobile operators but not publically propagated. No records regarding e-waste generation rates available. A research project and an e-waste forum initiated by Egypt cleaner production center and regional organization CEDARE, BCRC-Egypt is partner in both initiatives. An inter-ministerial committee with members from the private sector and national and regional organizations is formed and is currently discussing a road map for e-waste management in Egypt.

So far we do not have a specific tangible study for e-waste situation in Egypt which in my opinion still need to very comprehensive and at ground level analysis. The only activities done so far are leaded by CEDARE with different international partners.

National Authorities Private Sector Enterprises NGOs Non-Arab Enterprises E-waste Management Activities Survey in the Arab States Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

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