Ignorance of e-waste puts corporates at high risk

29 November 2006 News

Many of South Africa’s corporates are apathetic towards the environmental legacy that is being created through incorrect e-waste management.

That is according to Allan Werth, CEO of African Sky, who says failure to comply with legislative requirements surrounding the secure disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) puts companies at high risk.

"South Africa's e-waste volumes are increasing exponentially, as they have in the rest of the world," he says. "Legislation, both internationally and in South Africa, holds organisations accountable for the damage they inflict on the environment, and the penalties can run into millions of rands."

Werth tackled the controversial e-waste issues facing South Africa's corporates at the Electronic Waste Management Conference at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on 27 and 28 November 2006. In addition, Ian Watson, operations director of UK-based TES-AMM, African Sky's international recycling partner, discussed ways for developing countries to meet legislative requirements.

As the only ISO 14001-certified specialist e-waste solution company in South Africa, African Sky is ideally positioned to provide insight into the recycling and secure destruction of electronic waste - in South Africa, Africa and globally. A BEE organisation, African Sky has been in operation for the past 24 months and has all the local and international accreditation to meet the full spectrum of e-waste requirements.

Hosted by Koetsa Holdings, the conference boasted Valli Moosa, president of the World Conservation Union, and Patrick Salifu, regional enforcement officer of the United Nations Environmental Programme – Africa, as its chairmen. Other high-level speakers included Dr Mario D'Amato, executive director of Greenpeace China; Eileen Leopold, CEO of the South African Electro-Technical Export Council; and Dr Patrick Karani, environmental strategist of the Development Bank of South Africa.

For more information contact Allan Werth, African Sky, +27 (0) 11 845 4831.

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