An Investigation of how Electronic Media Houses in Lusaka Dispose Off their Obsolete ICT Equipment

Abstract

End-of-life electronics, otherwise known as e-waste has steadily become a visible threat to the environment. With the electronic industry fast becoming the world’s largest manufacturing industry, arguably, the industry with the shortest life span products. It is essential that the method of disposing the resultant e-waste becomes an integral part of electronic manufacture. E-waste poses serious negative health and environmental impacts. In spite of this, e-waste generated in Zambia is not properly managed due to lack policy guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Therefore, the study aimed at investigating how electronic media houses in Lusaka dispose-off their obsolete ICT equipment. Data for the study was collected using questionnaires and interview guides with key informants in electronic media houses in Lusaka. Secondary data was collected from review of literature. The study sample consisted of 30 respondents. The sampling procedure involved a random selection of 10 electronic media houses in Lusaka as each element had an equal chance of being selected for the sample. Purposive sampling was used to select a key informant and two Information Technology specialists from each electronic media house because these respondents were subjectively selected to represent as accurately as possible the characteristics of the population of interest. The study outcome revealed that the majority of respondents were not aware of any e-waste disposal policy in their respective institutions as well as at the country level. The study revealed that, most electronic media houses store obsolete ICT equipment in their own institution premises. Others opt to pit digging and burying methods of disposal because they feel it is cheaper and easy. However, the findings of the study revealed that the majority of respondents find it very difficult to find a suitable dumping site to dispose-off their e-waste and those that have access to dump sites claimed that the area was not enough to carter for the dumping of e-waste and general waste. Other challenges that electronic media houses face were e-waste is concerned were due to lack of recycling services in Zambia, lack of e-waste policy in many institutions and at country level, lack of knowledge on e-waste handling. As at the time of writing this report, Zambia lacks an environmental regulation or legal framework targeting e-waste as a special waste stream. There are existing laws that regulate the transboundary movement of toxic, hazardous and radioactive wastes and the achievement of environmentally sound management of hazardous substances. However, none is specific to the presence and management of e-waste.