Electronic Revolution and Electronic Wasteland: The West/Waste Africa Experience

In the name of bridging the digital divide between the developed world and countries in Africa, the African continent has become the world‘s latest destination for obsolete electrical equipment. The toxic nature of e-waste being transported to the continent, coupled with lack of efficient waste management system in the affected countries, has made the hazard transfer a subject of increasing global importance. E-waste is defined as ―a generic term encompassing various forms of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that are old, end-of-life (EOL) electronic appliances and have ceased to be of any value to their owner,‖ which is by far the best definition as of now. Given the volume of e-waste generated containing toxic materials, it is emerging as a risk to the society. Toxic pollutants are generated especially when e-waste is burned or recycled in uncontrolled manner.