| INECE-USEPA Workshop on E-Waste in West Africa
Accra, Ghana - 24-25 June 2009
The INECE-US Environmental Protection Agency’s Workshop on E-Waste in West Africa brought together nearly 70 participants, including regional participants from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. Participants spent two days examining the extent and implications of electronic waste issues in the West Africa region.
Followup & Outcomes: Participants workshop agreed that priority follow-up activities include:
- assessing national e-waste issues, including studies on the flows and quantities of e-waste.
- developing common definitions for waste, useable goods, and e-waste.
- drafting practical and enforceable model legal requirements and developing a more comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations, and standards to share across the region.
- participating in capacity building activities on e-waste, including on Basel Convention requirements on e-waste; seaport and border inspections, cooperation between customs and environmental authorities, and recycle and reuse strategies.
- piloting economically sustainable recycling programs that emphasize job creation while protecting human and environmental health.
- educating the public and decision-makers on a continuous basis, including raising awareness of health impacts of hazardous waste.
- identifying and pursuing strong institutional partnerships, including with the Basel Convention Regional Centers, ECOWAS, UNEP, and/or other African regional organizations.
Participants also committed to continuing to make progress on facing the challenge of e-waste during the upcoming International Conference on E-waste Control in Nigeria, hosted by NESREA. We urge you to contact Jane Metcalfe at the US Environmental Protection Agency via metcalfe.jane at epa.gov with questions regarding the outcomes and follow-up activities of this workshop.
Workshop Agenda & Presentations |
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Workshop Agenda  |
| The Health and Environmental Impacts of E-Waste |
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The Health and Environmental Impacts of E-Waste
Susan Dittke, Envirosense |
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Film: E-Waste South Africa |
| The Scope of the Challenges of E-Waste in West Africa |
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Status of E-waste Control in Nigeria
Dr. (Mrs.) Ngeri S. Benebo,
Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria
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The E-Waste Situation in Ghana
John A. Pwamang, Director, Chemicals Control and Management Centre (CCMC), EPA, Ghana
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Pilot Project on E-Waste Sénégal (français)
Michel Seck, BCRC, Sénégal
Related Resource: Flux interannuels de produits électroniques et électriques entrant au Sénégal de 2000 à 2007.
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E-wastes at the Cotonou Port, Benin, West Africa
Maman-Sani Issa, Environmental Management Department, Cotonou Port Authority, Benin
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| Responding to E-Waste Challenges |
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E-Wastes Africa Project: Building local capacity to address the flow of e-wastes and electrical and electronic products destined for reuse in selected African countries and augment the sustainable management of resources through the recovery of materials in e-wastes
Francesca Cenni, Programme Officer, Basel Convention Secretariat |
| Case Study: E-Waste Association of South Africa |
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Economically Sustainable, Environmentally-sound E-waste Management in South Africa
Keith Anderson, Chairman, e-Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) |
Approaches from Asia |
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E-waste Issues in Thailand
Piyanee Thangtongtawi, Competent Authority for Basel Convention, Government of Thailand
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Please contact Jane Metcalfe at USEPA (Metcalfe.Jane at epa.gov) or Danielle Grabiel at INECE Secretariat (dgrabiel at inece.org)with questions.
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