Prominent environmental expert in Malawi Mathews Malata has urged businesses and gov’t to strengthen e-waste management.

Amid the increase in consumption of electronic gadgets in Malawi, environmental expert Mathews Malata has urged companies and government authorities to prioritise efficient electronic waste (e-waste) management practices.

Malata has emphasized the need for sustainable systems, including robust guidelines and regulations, to handle the ever-increasing amounts of e-waste being imported into the country.

"E-waste poses significant environmental challenges, and its management requires immediate attention," Malata said. "Malawi's Vision 2063 aspires to create a clean, sustainable environment for all Malawians. However, we are still lagging behind in properly managing the disposal of electronic waste, which contains hazardous chemicals that could harm both the environment and human health."

Malata has underlined the critical need for further research into methods used to handle e-waste, particularly concerning the safe disposal of toxic materials found in electronics such as phones, radios, laptops, and printers.

He also stressed the importance of consumer education regarding the environmental impact of their discarded gadgets. "Consumers need to understand that while these gadgets serve an important purpose, they often contain harmful substances. After they can no longer be used, we need effective disposal methods that don’t harm the environment," he added.

Companies like Omicron Limited have taken up the challenge of helping to address the e-waste issue. Over the past three years, it has made significant strides in collecting and recycling e-waste.

Lindiwe Mzungu, Managing Director of Omicron Limited, confirmed that the company operates in accordance with Malawi's Environmental Act No. 19 of 2017, ensuring all processes are compliant with safe standards and regulations.

“Our efforts have focused on the proper collection, sorting, storing, and, where necessary, exporting of e-waste for recycling,” said Mzungu. “We are committed to expanding our operations by leveraging integrated technological solutions for local recycling, which will ultimately contribute to both environmental sustainability and human capital development.”

In addition to its core operations, Omicron Limited is actively working on enhancing coordination with various government ministries, departments, and agencies to improve the efficiency of its e-waste management activities.

Mzungu said this collaboration will help scale up efforts in tackling e-waste issues on a national level.

The integration of smart inventory management systems and real-time waste tracking technologies, which companies like Omicron are pioneering, can play a key role in mitigating these risks and ensuring that e-waste is handled responsibly.

Malata also underlined the importance of continued investment in research and innovation to create sustainable solutions for electronic waste.

He also underscored the role of both private companies and the government in developing and enforcing policies that support e-waste recycling and proper disposal practices.

"Technology is a powerful enabler," Malata noted. "We need to harness it to create a circular economy for electronic waste, where materials are reused, recycled, and safely disposed of.”