Local firms encouraged to develop e-waste disposal facilities |24 July 2014

The Ministry of Environment and Energy is calling on potential enterprises with an interest in developing e-waste disposal facilities to come forward.
The ministry has a plot of land on the Providence industrial zone for the development of such facilities, Minister Rolph Payet said in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Minister Payet said this while answering a question by elected member for Pointe Larue Jennifer Vel, who had asked the minister to give details on e-waste situation in the country as well as to explain the government’s policy on the issue.

Minister Payet explained that e-waste comprises all the modern electronic equipment imported in the country which is no longer in use and they include computers, mobile phones, television sets, telecommunication equipment among others.

They all pose dangerous health risks both to humans and the natural environment if they are not properly disposed of and at present many such items are finding their way on the landfill.

To date there are only estimated figures on the amount of e-waste collected here last year. He said this information has to be reviewed to ensure that standard classification procedures are being adhered to when these items are imported in the country and when being disposed.

Minister Payet said with the development of markets for recyclable waste his ministry believes that eventually there will be a market for e-waste, noting that already there are a few small companies exporting certain parts of these items.

He noted that his ministry is currently working on a programme to ensure Seychelles puts in place measures and procedures to allow for easier collection and treatment of these electronic wastes.

Furthermore Minister Payet pointed out that at the level of small island states there are negotiations taking place through different international conventions to put in place an inter-regional structure to ensure these are properly dealt with. But challenges remain to address e-waste problems as it is at present.

Meanwhile, with the opening of the new landfill, collection and sorting of waste is being reviewed to ensure recyclable waste as well as electronic wastes do not end up on the landfill.