SA's first ISO-compliant e-waste company launched

3 November 2004 News

African Sky was launched last month, marking the advent of South Africa's first ISO 14001- and ISO 9000-compliant electronic waste recycling company. This burgeoning market is believed to be the world's fastest growing and potentially most dangerous problem.

African Sky is 52% owned by BEE investment specialist Vuthela Services. In an international relationship with Citiraya, a leading refinery, African Sky is poised to entrench itself in the business of recycling electronic waste (e-waste) such as defunct computers, cellphones and switchboards. Citiraya was established in Singapore in 1989 and commands a 70% share of the corporate market for scrapped electronics that manufacturers themselves collect and pass on for recycling.

Allan Werth, CEO of African Sky, says there is huge potential for the South African market. "In addition to providing an e-waste recycling service to local companies, we are ideally positioned to work with Citiraya due to South Africa's attractive combination of affordable labour and First World capability," he says.

Using a state-of-the-art factory in Benoni, African Sky disassembles the equipment, recycling the plastic and metal components of e-waste locally. The electronic components are shipped to Citiraya where all base materials are recycled. According to Werth, 96% of electronic equipment can be built from recycled material.

Johnny Clegg, director of African Sky and a founding member of Vuthela Services, says both organisations are committed to protecting the local environment. "Electronic components are full of toxins, and most electronic junk ends up choking landfills as these poisons seep into the ground."

Commenting on the business drivers behind e-waste recycling, he adds that the EU passed a directive in 2003 forcing electronics manufacturers to take back and recycle up to 75% of the products they sell. "South Africa will soon follow suit, and local companies with international ties are already expected to comply with these requirements," he says.

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