TZ commits to control e-waste
TANZANIA has expressed commitment to join other East African member states in curbing uncontrolled electronic waste (e-waste) that are on the increase, thus fueling environmental pollution and threatening human life.
The commitment includes conducting research, collaboration and educating members of the public on the dangers of disposing of obsolete electronic gadgets which apart from being harmful to the environment, some turn poisonous, especially if they find their ways into water sources.
This was said in Dar es Salaam on Thursday by Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr Khamis Hamza Khamis.
He was officiating closing of the Fifth East African Communications (EACO) Workshop on the Promotion of Electronic Waste Management, in Dar es Salaam.
“The government of Tanzania is promoting on research, collaboration and capacity building to various institutions and the members of public at large on best mechanism for e-waste management,” he said adding that other measures include putting in place rules, regulations and legislations which would guide such matters for better future when it comes to e-waste.
He said that recent development measures put in place by the government has seen development in uses of electricity and their apparatuses increasing rapidly. Televisions sets, computers and mobile phones were leading on electronic equipment procured from time to time, however, the challenges still faced by many people when it comes to safely disposing them.
Mr Khamis highlighted other measures in place as extending producer’s responsibility, where they have to come up with a mechanism of recycling wastes of their gadgets procured from them at the end of their life use. This will minimize such e-wastes from being thrown rampantly to the environment.
Earlier, a representative of the Director General of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Mr Emmanuel Manasse explained that plastic parts of disposed electronic gadgets are harmful if left to be thrown to soil or water ways.
“Batteries from these gadgets are poisonous and deadly. If they contaminate waters, they may cause diseases and even kill people who consumes water and other products or disentombs them from the grounds,” he said.
The conference attracted more than 400 participants from EAC member states who attended in person and online.
