Current Status of the Electronic Waste Problem in Egypt

Abstract

Huge amounts of e-waste is generated yearly. It contains valuable metals such as copper aluminum and nickel, and precious metals such as gold, silver palladium and indium. However, it has serious hazards impacts on health and environment. E-waste management becomes essential to recover the valuable and precious metals, and protect health and environment. Egypt is a significant market for electric and electronic products that ends as e-waste and in the top of African countries in e-waste generation. The amount of EEE put on Egyptian market is 1069 kt with increasing rate of 10.44%; while the generated e-waste is 586 kt in with increasing rate of 5.71%. The increase in EEE put on the market is almost 3.6 times the increase in population, while the increase e-waste generated is almost double the increase in population. In average, the e-waste generated is almost 58.7 % of the amount of EEE put on the market. The generated e-waste per capita, is 5.84 kg/capita at increasing rate of 2.66%. The e-waste generated in Egypt is about 20.1% that of the African continent, while the population in Egypt is about 8.6% of Africa. In fact, Egypt has no serious national programs and regulations to handle e waste properly, and e-waste activities are dominated and controlled by garbage traders and waste collectors.