Is Africa doing anything it can to be recognized, including accepting exported electronic waste? How many shipping containers of garbage destined to never find a home or be recycled have to be shipped to Africa before they don’t accept any more? What can we do to prevent developing countries from filling up with old junk?

For many environmentalists and philanthropists, getting rid of e-waste is a major concern – especially when the e-waste is being dumped into Third World Countries by unscrupulous manufacturers. What can be done to stop this misuse of unsuspecting nations? And what is to be said of the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ programs that many countries claim to be using?

It’s been estimated that 250,000 tons of e-waste is shipped illegally into countries like Africa annually. That large of an amount equals the amount of e-waste produced by some smaller European countries. Besides that, the amount of waste is expected to grow exponentially but we are still only recycling approximately 13 percent of electronic waste.

The United Nations has stepped in. Policies are being established in order to both address e-waste issues and strengthen collaborative efforts between groups such as information and communications technology (ICT) and environmental policymakers as well as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC). Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary General, Achim Steiner, sincerely believes we must improve the e-waste collection tactics and formalize recycling structures in order to accomplish a more ‘resource-efficient green economy.’

It is vital since electronic waste contains toxins like mercury and lead that, if disposed of incorrectly, can initiate environmental damage and impair the health and well-being of humans. The joint projects will be useful especially in raising awareness about how to properly dispose of e-waste. This is also essential since it is estimated that Africa’s increased consumption of electronic products ,in addition to the imports they are currently receiving, will total more e-waste for them as a whole than Europe by 2017.

Current estimations show that 85% of the e-waste in Africa is due to its own consumption already. Thus it is vital that illegal trade is monitored in order to cut down on creating an electronics dumping ground in this country.

Is there any value in this e-waste at all? Yes, there is. Since the UN has stepped in, more efforts are being made to lengthen a product’s life. On the flip-side, the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ programs are obtaining new certifications called e-Stewards. The e-Stewards’ logo gives the assurance that a recycler will keep toxic materials within developed countries while going through the chain of recycling; both protecting the environment and the people.

How do we help this plan along? We can help by promoting e-stewards and by not purchasing products that have proven short life-spans.

Just think, you could become an environmentalist and philanthropist simply by saving money purchasing electronics less often and promoting e-Stewards. It’s a win-win for all. Think about it the next time you are in the market!