The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, created under section 18 (1) of the National Environmental Waste Management Act, affect all companies involved in the lighting, electrical and electronics industries, including those who sell computer and IT equipment, smartphones and renewable energy equipment. Battery importers or manufacturers and direct distributors, as well as the paper and packaging and single use product sectors, are also all impacted. The regulations were published in November 2020, with amendments made on 5 May 2021. They came into full force six months later, on 5 November 2021.
It’s a pity the focus appears to be mostly on registration requirements. What the article does not delve into is, what will happen differently, and what options do registered companies now have for disposal of e-waste. How does this affect us as consumers, i.e. can we still toss away e-waste, or can/must we dispose of it with any registered company.
See E-waste regulations come into force, with threat of fines and jail time
#technology #southafrica #ewaste #environment
New South African regulations dealing with electronic waste have come into full force, and companies that fail to comply face the threat of hefty fines or even jail time.