Awareness campaign on e-waste kicks off
Major cause for concern
Earlier this year, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research found that Namibia has insufficient regulations in place to deal with e-waste.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) launched a campaign to raise awareness about electronic waste, or e-waste, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Forestry and Tourism as well as the City of Windhoek (CoW).This after a report by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research earlier this year found that there are insufficient regulations in place to deal with e-waste in Namibia.
“In an era where technological progress is rapid and ubiquitous, the management of e-waste has become an urgent cause for concern worldwide. E-waste includes electronic devices such as phones, computers and television sets which often contain material that is dangerous to the environment and human health if not disposed of properly,” CRAN said in a newsletter.
However, CRAN warns that the benefits that technology brings must be weighed against the responsibilities that come with it.
“As Namibia continues to embrace technology, the amount of e-waste produced is steadily increasing. Toxic substances found in electronic devices such as lead, mercury and cadmium can seep into the soil and water sources, causing pollution and health problems.” – [email protected]