Background
Namibia is experiencing a growing challenge in the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (e-waste), commonly known as e-waste. Driven by increased digitalization and rising consumption of electrical and electronic devices, the volume of e-waste is expected to continue rising. Without a formalized national policy and management framework, the country faced growing risks to human health and the environment, along with the loss of valuable resources that could be recovered through proper recycling processes.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) initiated the development of a National E-waste Management Policy. In support of this process, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provided technical assistance to MICT to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and to align Namibia’s e-waste management approach with international good practices. The National E-waste Management Policy was developed throughout 2020 and 2021 with consideration of the Namibian context and inspiration from successful e-waste regulations in the region. The policy endorses the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
As part of this collaboration, a consultation and engagement workshop was convened in Windhoek to bring together key private sector representatives. This workshop served as a foundational step in developing a shared understanding of the current landscape, challenges, and opportunities for e-waste management in Namibia, and to build consensus on a strategic roadmap for a national e-waste management system.
