Back to: SRI Online Training on E-Waste Management

 

 

Shifting towards
a better system

This section will look at a number of steps to enhance the transformation and the inclusion of the informal sector.

At the administrative level

  • Create an independent administrative authority to oversee the trading, processing, recycling and export of e-waste.
  • Establish an NGO (it could be an existing one) that has the following specifications:
Has an influential role among waste collectors, workshops and traders of the informal sector.
Has strong links with the concerned governmental authorities.

Has management competencies and expertise responsibilities.

Has a strong presence of social dimensions and environmental requirements.

At the technical level

  • Establish a market place to ease exchange between informal and formal stakeholders.
  • Establish regional centres for processing and recycling of this waste.

On the financial level

  • The sector should be provided with lending services (such as revolving loans) to the members of the official union or the chosen NGO.
  • These lending services should plan to convert informal sector to formal traders and workshops.

At the legal level

  • The chosen NGO shall supervise the transformation procedure from informal towards formal sector.
  • It will provide legal support for the informal collectors and traders.
  • Legal support should facilitate the access to legal approvals necessary to obtain commercial registers and permits.
  • The NGO should also help to facilitate the development of these workers in the formal image.

At the institutional level

  • Choose one or more Egyptian NGOs to provide training services for industrial health and safety, methods of dismantling, recovery of precious materials.
  • They should also provide health and social insurance services for employees.
  • They could establish a union for workers to protect against monopoly of big traders.

At the social level

  • The chosen NGO shall raise public awareness about dealing with WEEE and about the importance of a proper end-of-life management.
  • It will also raise awareness on the risks on public health when unproperly managed.
  • It shall explain the necessity of dealing with formal registered companies.

On the environmental level

  • Implement standards for places of storage, processing and recycling of electronic waste.
  • Health of workers on working sites should be promoted by continuous inspection of work places.
  • Impose fines in case of environmental law violation.

Read supporting information here.