Publication - Electronic Waste (E-waste) Management for Off-grid Solar Solutions in Displacement Settings

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Title

Electronic Waste (E-waste) Management for Off-grid Solar Solutions in Displacement Settings

Publisher

GPA, UNITAR, NORAD, NORCAP

Author

GPA, UNITAR, NORAD, NORCAP

Published in

January 2022

Abstract

GPA Coordination Unit has undertaken a study with support from NORCAP, to amplify the efforts on e-waste management in displacement settings.

As the number of initiatives focusing on improving energy access for displaced and host communities increases, so does the quantity of electronic waste (e-waste) in displacement settings. However, most of the e-waste ends up unused, buried, burned, or informally disposed of on the ground. The lack of proper e-waste management practices in displacement settings poses health and environmental hazards due to leaking batteries or exposure to heavy metals within off-grid solar products.

Triggered by NORCAP’s interest in providing specialist support on the e-waste in displacement settings topic, this study defines e-waste from solar products, identifies several e-waste management tools for humanitarian organizations, highlighting the importance of circular economy principles, lists an overview of keys actors and ongoing projects, and provides a reflection on the findings and recommendations for key actors.

The recommendations from the report can be summarised as below.

Coordination of e-waste activities within the humanitarian sector; Advocacy for an enabling environment through an appropriate regulatory framework; Sustainable procurement guidelines for electronic products purchased by humanitarian organizations; Establishment of proper repair, recycling, and disposal infrastructure in displacement settings; Manufacturers to design repairable products with longer lifetimes; Inclusion of e-waste management strategy in energy programming; and

Capacity building and livelihoods activities for the displacement-affected communities.

URL

link to the document

Admin:
No

• Humanitarian Energy

• Solar

• Off-grid