The digital revolution has undeniably brought progress to Nepal, connecting us and opening new avenues for growth. However, with every new gadget comes an eventual end-of-life, contributing to a growing mountain of electronic waste, or e-waste. In Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other urban centers, a largely invisible workforce toils in the informal sector, dismantling these discarded devices to extract valuable materials [1]. While providing a crucial, albeit rudimentary, recycling service and a source of livelihood for many, this sector often operates under hazardous conditions, posing significant risks to human health and the environment [2].
Workers, often including vulnerable women and children, are exposed to toxic substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants without adequate protective gear or awareness of the long-term health implications [ILO, 2018]. Crude dismantling methods, such as open burning of cables to recover copper, release harmful dioxins and furans into the air, soil, and water, impacting entire communities [UNEP, 2019].
At Green Smith Nepal, we believe that the solution is not to eradicate the informal sector, which would displace thousands, but to strategically integrate and formalize it. This involves:
- Recognizing their role: Acknowledging the economic contribution of informal recyclers.
- Capacity building: Providing training on safe handling, dismantling techniques, and occupational health and safety.
- Access to technology: Facilitating access to cleaner and more efficient recycling technologies.
- Creating linkages: Connecting informal collectors with formal, licensed recyclers and aggregators.
- Policy support: Developing policies that support fair wages, social security, and safe working environments for formalized workers [MoFE, 2019 - hypothetical Nepali policy].
Formalization can transform a hazardous, low-value activity into a safer, more dignified, and environmentally sound part of Nepal's burgeoning circular economy. It requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, civil society, private sector, and the informal workers themselves. Green Smith Nepal is committed to advocating for and facilitating this crucial transition, ensuring that Nepal’s e-waste challenge is managed sustainably and inclusively.
References:
[1] Basel Convention. (2011). Where are WEEE in Africa? Findings from the E-waste Africa Programme. (Illustrative of regional studies that Nepal might emulate).
[2] Perkins, D. N., Drisse, M. N. B., Nxele, T., & Sly, P. D. (2014). E-Waste: A Global Hazard. Annals of Global Health, 80(4), 286-295. (General academic source).
[ILO, 2018] International Labour Organization. (2018). The health impacts of e-waste. (Placeholder for relevant ILO report).
[UNEP, 2019] United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Global E-waste Monitor. (Placeholder for relevant UNEP report).
[MoFE, 2019] Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal. (2019). National E-waste Management Strategy (Hypothetical). (Illustrative of a potential national document).
