WEEE-GIP (AHK Kenya)

The initial situation

Improper disposal of electronic waste in Kenya releases toxic chemicals such as mercury and lead, endangering the environment and the health of the population.

The approach

The WEEE-GIP project (Kenyan-GreenTech Innovation Program Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

• made relevant market actors more visible through a WEEE Innovation Summit,
• improved the exchange of information by starting up a Technical Working Group (TWG) and
• supported waste management.

The TWG was managed by AHK Services Eastern Africa Ltd. in cooperation with a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) and consisted of representatives of the Kenyan private sector, local stakeholders and German experts. The decisive factor here was the promotion of the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) activities in the country.

The objectives and measures

The objective of the project was to help ensure that electric and electronic waste is properly collected, treated and recycled in Kenya. Waste management in Kenya was improved by building institutional capacities and infrastructures that promote sustainable economic and environmentally friendly development.

The establishment of a functioning Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) was specifically promoted, collection systems for electric and electronic waste at existing recycling facilities were made visible and the waste infrastructure in Kenya was improved.

The project was implemented in four phases:
In the first phase, a baseline study was conducted. This was followed by joining the PRO. In the third phase, a four-day event was held in Nairobi (WEEE Innovation Summit) to discuss the challenges facing various sectors and the solutions developed. A pilot project was carried out in the final phase. A company was selected as part of an ideas competition and supported by the AHK in the procurement of hardware and the design of advanced training measures. The relevant actors in waste management, from collection to recycling, were involved in each phase in order to strengthen cooperation.