Malawi Developing E-Waste Plan to Protect Citizens, Environment

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is in the process of developing an E-waste strategy to address issues of management involving any electrical and electronic equipment that needs to be discarded after use. These include household items such as fridges, televisions, lamps, mobile phones and computers.

This was disclosed by MACRA Board chairperson, Stanley Khaila at the authority's first open day - a hub where every year it will be engaging with existing and potential licencees and consumers on -among others- regulatory issues and innovative ideas intended to grow the country's ICT industry.

Uncontrolled e-waste practices can expose people in close contact to high levels of contaminants such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic which can lead to irreversible health effects.