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REPUBLIC OF BURUNDIPRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI

REGULATORY AGENCY AND CONTROL OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS "ARCT »

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC WASTE: THE CASE OF BURUNDI.

Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi KENYA. March 18th to 20th 2015

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Summary

• GENERALITIES ON BURUNDI.• BACKGROUND.• DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC WASTE.• CATEGORIES ELECTRONIC WASTE.• ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT.• STRUCTURES AND LEGAL REGULATION,

POLICIES, GUIDELINES, etc.• STRATEGIES AND AWARENESS FRAMES• ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AS A

BUSINESS CASE (JOB OPPORTUNITIES, etc.)• STATISTICS ON PRODUCTION AND THE VOLUME

OF ELECTRONIC WASTE.

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A. GENERALITY ON BURUNDI

 

Some information about BURUNDI :

• Area: 27,834 km2• Population: 8,053,574 (Source:

General Census of Population and Housing 2008)

• Population using a radio: unknown

• Population using a television set: not known

• Population using a mobile phone: 94022 (Source: General Census of Population and Housing 2008)

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Suite : GENERAL ON BURUNDI

•Population using a landline: 21686 (Source: General Census of Population and Housing 2008)

•People using a laptop: 940 (Source: General Census of Population and Housing 2008)

•Tourist Place: Lake Tanganyika, the Falls of MWISHANGA and Kagera, the Stone Stanley Livingston, Rusizi National Park, Kibira National Park, Ruvubu National Park , etc.

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B. BACKGROUND

The Presidential Decree No. 100/97 of 18 April 2014 laying down the operating conditions of the electronic communications sector, which replaced the old Decree-Law No. 1/011 04 September 1997 fixing Organic Provisions on Telecommunications.

The new Decree has the overall objective of:

• Attach the network operating conditions and services in the electronic communications sector;

• Apply the rules to the operators and users of telephony services, radio and Internet operating in BURUNDI;

• An annex integrates the Decree and fixed rates and royalty rates applicable to the electronic communications sector.

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C. DEFINITION

The term electronic waste is a term used to cover almost all types of electrical and electronic equipment that have reached the end of their product life cycle.

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D. ELECTRONIC WASTE CATEGORIES

It includes three main categories namely:

• ICT Equipment and office equipment.e.g.: desktops, lap tops, copy-fax machine,

cell phones, etc.•Consumer electronics.e.g.: TV, radio, hi-fi loudspeaker, etc.•Domestic appliances.e.g.: kettles, irons, vacuum cleaners, etc.

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E. ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Electronic waste management is a major problem for BURUNDI. The Developed countries dump their electronic waste to the developing countries whose BURUNDI as equipments of second hand, since they are cheaper. However, electronic waste is not only a waste; it contains highly toxic substances such as Mercury, Lead, etc. and can cause cancer, the reproductive disorders, and many other health problems if they are not properly managed. The waste management in our country is mainly informally as there is no regulation in place to protect the health of those who dismantle electronic equipment. Our country has a significant lack of knowledge and legislation to handle electronic waste in a safe and secure manner.

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F. STRUCTURES AND LEGAL REGULATION, POLICIES AND GUIDELINES.

Although BURUNDI has no regulations in place, it has ratified some conventions such as those of Bamako signed on 30 January 1991 and that of BASEL approved by BURUNDI on 6 January 1997 but not yet signed.

Regarding the current policy, there is a National Sanitation Policy (NSP) of BURUNDI and Operational Strategy 2015 of March 2013 and in this electronic document, waste management is not precise and the guidelines are not well defined.

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G. STRATEGIES AND AWARENESS FRAMES

The ARCT was hired to make consumer awareness, the Government and other stakeholders on the consequences and the dangers caused by the use of electronic equipment for their non-use everywhere in the country

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H. ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AS A BUSINESS CASE (JOB OPPORTUNITIES, etc.)

Some players have seen the importance of fighting against the harmful effects on the environment and created employments through associations such as:

• KEM BURUNDI: the objective of collecting mobile phones at the end of the lifecycle in Kirundo;

• Center of electronics Waste management: in City of Bujumbura;

• Glice BURUNDI: loaded free to pick up and handle electrical and electronic waste.

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I. STATISTICS ON PRODUCTION AND THE VOLUME OF ELECTRONIC WASTE.

Data from the General Census of Population and Housing 2008. The volume of tonnage is not known.

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Thank you for your attention.