Kenya proposes stricter e-scrap collection

Legislation before Kenya’s Senate seeks tougher rules on the disposal of electronic scrap. Individuals and organisations dumping e-scrap outside approved zones could face fines or jail.

The Electronic Equipment Disposal, Recycling and Reuse Bill aims to create a legal system for collecting, sorting and recycling e-scrap nationwide. Sponsored by Senator Peris Tobiko, the proposed law would require anyone producing e-scrap to use designated local collection points.

‘A person who generates e-scrap shall dispose of it at the designated ward consolidation site,’ the bill states. Non-compliance risks a EUR 144 fine, six months in jail, or both. Operators of recycling plants without a licence face up to EUR 360 in fines or six months in jail.

National plant

The law plans ward-level collection sites, county sorting centres, and a central National E-scrap Recycling Plant. This facility will be set up by the Environment Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). It must occupy at least 121 405 m² with a 20 234 m² buffer.

County governors will establish e-scrap sorting centres, each covering at least 20 234 m² with an 8 094 m² buffer. They may also create smaller ward consolidation points for early collection and aggregation.

‘The Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with NEMA and county governors, may set standards and guidelines for the national plant, sorting sites, and ward points,’ the bill reads.

County environment executives will licence e-scrap collectors. Licensed collectors must move materials from ward sites to county sorting centres or the national plant.

‘An e-scrap collector shall deliver materials collected from ward sites to a designated sorting site or the National E-scrap Recycling Plant,’ the bill requires.