End-Of-Life Recycling

As a major supplier of refurbished computers to Africa, Digital Links is concerned about the potential environmental impact of the electronic waste that will be produced as a result of the increased use of ICTs. However, we do not believe this negates the need for affordable access to technology for education and development. For this reason Digital Links has committed itself to research affordable ways to minimise the environmental impact of its own activities and to encourage other organisations involved in the development of ICT use in Africa to do the same.

Digital Links is one of the only organisations of its kind concerned with end-of-life recycling of PCs in Africa. Although many recognise the growing problem of e-waste in the developed world, Digital Links is currently working on a solution to the issue of safe disposal hazardous materials when PCs eventually reach their end of useful life abroad.

At present, due to the low volumes of equipment in use, and the lack of investment in this area, there are few facilities for complete recycling of IT equipment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Supporting these projects is a fantastic way to help promote environmental excellence and be at the forefront of exciting developments in environmental sustainability across Africa. For example, Cooperative Financial Services sponsored a project to develop an interim e-waste solution PCs which have reached the end of their useful lives. With a budget of less than £10,000 Digital Links will be able to return non-reusable components of recycled PCs to the value-chain in the UK, instead of ending up in land-fill.

Going forward Digital Links hopes to establish a sustainable recycling solution on the continent by exporting the expertise of European environmental recyclers to develop capacity and sustainable and profitable recycling entrepreneurs in the developing world. The project offers the opportunity to help shape sustainable growth in Africa, by providing local people with the skills and capacity to ensure safe end-of-life processing of PCs in country. This will be based on a social – and commercially sound – model of safe recycling operation in country