In Kenya, the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) will train and sensitise people and industries on the dangers of pollution from electrical and electronic waste. The operation will be carried out under a project recently launched by MUST Vice-Chancellor Romanus Odhiambo.
Under the project, MUST will receive financial support from Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the German development agency, the European Union (EU) and several other partners.
Boosting environmental conservation
Within its campus, MUST strives to practice the circular economy, which aims to produce zero waste. This approach will be presented to Kenyans throughout the project, as well as the benefits of the circular economy of waste for environmental conservation. Smartphones, computers, appliances containing motherboards, batteries, screens and cables. All these devices contain toxic substances such as lead, cadmium or mercury that can contaminate soil, water and air.
In June 2023, MUST will hand over the scrolls to 175 technicians trained in waste management techniques, who will in turn serve as a relay to the people in the villages of Kenya. The University of Meru has a sanitation research institute that also focuses on the circular economy.
Building an e-waste recycling plant
The training provided by MUST will contribute to the reduction of e-waste pollution in Kenya. In 2019, the authorities estimated the annual production of e-waste at 17,000 tonnes. This figure has certainly increased despite the 2019 National Waste Management Strategy, which calls for the buy-back of waste from people to avoid landfill.
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To support the Kenyan government’s policy, MUST also aims to build a “mini recycling centre that will serve as a teaching facility and income generation centre. This will help develop the circular economy and increase employment for young people in this sector,” explains MUST Vice-Chancellor Romanus Odhiambo.
Inès Magoum