Africa’s clean energy transition is closely knit to e-waste reforms since the technology supporting clean energy relies on the use of electronics. From production to consumption, electronics aid the conversion and use of clean energy. Concerns have been raised in the recent past regarding e-waste generated from clean energy sources such as solar and wind.

A key principle observed in sustainability requires that the solution to one problem should not lead to the creation of another problem. If that happens, then mitigations for the resulting problem need to be provided for the new solution to be sustainable and acceptable. This is the filter through which e-waste reforms should be viewed for them to effectively support Africa’s clean energy transition.

Why E-Waste Reform Is Key to Africa’s Clean Energy Future. 

E-waste reforms are urgently needed to tackle the growing challenge of electronic waste management in Africa. The urgency is driven by the hazardous nature of e-waste, which poses significant risks to both human health and the environment. Implementing comprehensive e-waste reforms can deliver a range of benefits, including:

• Promoting the responsible use and end-of-life management of renewable energy technologies

• Advancing a circular economy through reuse, repair, and recycling

• Unlocking green entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in the recycling sector

• Addressing critical environmental and public health risks caused by improper e-waste disposal

Types of E-Waste from Renewable Energy Systems. 

• Solar energy produces solar panels, inverters and controllers, and batteries (lithium-ion or lead-acid for off-grid storage). 

• Wind energy produces wind turbines, control systems, electrical converters, and sensors. 

• Geothermal, hydropower and biomass energy produce less e-waste, mainly control electronics, sensors and automatic systems. 

• During consumption of clean energy, the e-wastes produced are e-mobility devices such as Electric Vehicles and bikes, solar powered electronics and appliances, and other devices or appliances produced to directly consume renewable energy. 

It is worth noting that renewable energy electronics has a lifespan of between 20 to 30 years on average. Therefore, their quantity can be controlled and managed with proper prior planning.

E-Waste Reforms Africa Needs to Succeed. 

To support Africa’s transition to clean energy, technological reforms, policy reforms, institutional reforms, infrastructural reforms, and financial reforms are all required for long-term sustainable solutions to be provided.

Technological reforms.  

The solar and wind industries are relatively new and still have lots of room for innovation. Initially, most people concluded that e-waste generated from solar panels and wind turbines is not easily recyclable, but recent innovations have disabused them of this notion. Technological innovations around clean energy can explore possibilities for different product designs that are easier to recycle and reuse. 

Several innovative companies in the US and Australia are currently recycling solar panels and wind turbines. Though evidence shows that only one company in Africa, EWaste Africa, is currently recycling solar panels. Their annual rate of recycling was close to 16,000 solar panels, by 2024. Other companies like Desco Electronic Recyclers in South Africa, which are in the space of e-waste recycling, have the potential to recycle solar panels. Technological reforms are therefore required to enable such innovative companies to accommodate more types of e-wastes, especially those linked to clean energy. 

Policy reforms. 

Technological innovations supporting clean energy are advancing faster than policies can catch up, not just in Africa, but globally. This leads to gaps that cause mismanagement of the e-waste produced. Policy reforms, especially those in line with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, when enforced appropriately, can help Africa manage e-waste at end-of-life with considerable support from manufacturers. Policies regulating the import quality of electronics can also help reduce the flow of e-waste in Africa.

South Africa has set the pace in policy reforms that address clean energy e-waste, banning end-of-life solar panels alongside other e-wastes from SA landfills. This policy was effected in 2021, under the new EPR laws, mandating manufacturers and importers to offer clean disposal methods for their customers. 

Infrastructural reforms. 

Institutional reforms. 

It is important to have specialized institutions dedicated to overseeing the implementation of e-waste reforms made to support Africa’s clean energy transition. Bodies like the UN and AU can have preeminence in the formation of such institutions at a regional level, and states can take up responsibility at the country level. Without such institutions, reforms and initiatives may remain unimplemented or poorly implemented.

Infrastructural reforms. 

Poor management of e-waste persists because the current underdeveloped waste management infrastructure is unsustainable. In particular, e-waste sorting, segregation, and collection processes have not received as much infrastructural assistance compared to plastics and other types of waste. Setting up recycling facilities, segregation stations, and collection centers dedicated to e-waste, will enhance the successful implementation of policy and institutional reforms. 

Financial reforms. 

Finances are the main resource required to realize and effect change. From budget considerations within national budgets to investments and fundraising, financial resources will empower the implementation of set strategies and initiatives. Financial support in research and development on e-waste recycling is required to explore solution-oriented innovations that will transform the sector. 

Educational Reforms. 

Public education and awareness creation are key in behavioral change around e-waste management. Public ignorance hinders sustainable e-waste management and encourages waste hibernation. E-waste hibernation is the practice where people pile up e-wastes in their residential areas, while considering them for future use. Off-grid solar devices such as solar lamps are among the common e-wastes currently being hibernated. A study by Godwin, Christine and Ivan showed that 72% of e-waste hibernates in Kenyan rural homes, which lose economic value. 

Running public awareness campaigns about e-waste disposal, re-use, and the associated risks will help shift the current poor practices surrounding e-waste management. Furthermore, integrating e-waste management into TVET (technical/vocational) training can help formalize the sector, increase green entrepreneurship, and create more green jobs. Informal sector workers handling the collection of e-waste need to be trained on safe dismantling and recycling practices.

Key to note;

E-waste reforms are not just a side conversation in Africa’s clean energy transition; they are at the center of it. As the continent continues to invest in renewable energy technologies, equal attention must be given to the waste these technologies produce, both at the production and consumption levels. Africa’s opportunity lies in proactively designing reforms that align with its development priorities, leveraging innovation, policy, and education to create systems that can support green growth.