Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Tracking the adoption of policies that make manufacturers and importers physically and financially responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.
How EPR Works in the African Context
1. Registration
Manufacturers and importers of electronics (like ACs and fridges) must register with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).
2. Financial Contribution
Producers pay a fee (often an eco-levy at the port) based on the volume and type of equipment they place on the market.
3. End-of-Life Management
The PRO uses these funds to subsidize formal collection, safe dismantling, and environmentally sound recycling of e-waste.
Implementation Status by Country
South Africa
Implemented (2021)Mandatory EPR for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), lighting, and packaging.
Ghana
Implemented (2016)Act 917 incorporates EPR principles and an Eco-levy on imported electronic items to fund recycling.
Nigeria
Implemented (2011)NESREA guidelines mandate EPR. Established the E-waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON).
Rwanda
Implemented (2018)National e-waste management policy based on EPR, heavily driving the Enviroserve facility.
Kenya
Drafting (Ongoing)Draft Environmental Management (EPR) Regulations are currently under review.
Egypt
Implemented (2020)Waste Management Law No. 202 mandates EPR for multiple waste streams including e-waste.