Litter from post-consumer EEE products and polymers, and their impacts on the environment

Abstract

Littering is an old problem that has plagued mankind for a long time. As long as the waste was organic and biodegradable, there was no concem for living beings and the enviromnent. Unfortunately, with the increased consumption of various products, e-waste and plastic waste have increased significantly and have become a serious threat to humans, animals, and the ecosystem due to the toxic substances they contain. Africa is the region in the world with the lowest estimated generation rate of this waste. In 2019, Africa generated an average of 2.5 kg of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and 16 kg of plastic waste per capita, compared to 7 .3 kg of WEEE and 50 kg of plastic waste globally in 2019 and 2021 respectively ( and rising). The world population was estimated at 8 billion people in 2021 and around 400 million tons of plastic were produced that year. This is equivalent to the 50kg per capita worldwide mentioned above. Waste management from obsolete products at the end of their life has become a challenge for developing countries, while developed countries are increasingly seeking and finding solutions to their waste. However, the mismanagement of this waste, its accumulation, and the exponential population growth over the years have made the problem more worrying and require a sustainable solution. African countries lack the financial resources and appropriate technology to tackle the problem. This thesis presents the problem and proposes possible solutions for Africa based on the 'circular economy' idea. The materials contained in electrical and electronic equipment and plastic products have c;i. value that needs to be recovered through state-of-the-art waste recycling in a context adapted to local realities. This requires the establishment of an effective, wellstructured waste collection system for a recycling strategy (material recovery) to prolong the life of materials and avoid or significantly reduce the use of. virgin raw materials, thus contributing to the conservation of resources, the fight against climate change and the creation of a healthy enviromnent.