The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, led by Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts, hosted the E-Waste Recycling Pilot Project Launch and Imbizo at Ngangelizwe Rotary Stadium, Ward 3 in Mthatha under the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality.
In her welcoming remarks, O.R. Tambo District Municipality Speaker Cllr Nonkoliso Ngqongwa highlighted the importance of protecting the environment, noting that environmental pollution contributes to climate change and negatively affects weather patterns. She encouraged communities to work together in keeping the environment clean by disposing of and recycling waste responsibly instead of dumping it carelessly.
 
The initiative aims to promote the proper disposal and recycling of electronic waste while raising awareness about environmental sustainability. It also encourages communities to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste in their environments. E-waste includes broken, unused, or old electronic devices such as televisions, computers, batteries, cellphones, and other electronic equipment.
Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts said the project presents opportunities for local economic development, as e-waste recycling has the potential to support job creation, skills development, and small enterprise participation while contributing to the growth of a circular economy within the municipality and the province.
Community members were encouraged to establish waste buy-back centres to help manage waste effectively. “Waste is gold” — residents are encouraged to protect the environment through recycling while also earning an income of up to R4.50 per kilogram of electronic waste collected.
May be an image of one or more people, speaker and text