(OSLO, 2008-07-01) Uncontrolled export of EE waste and used EE equipment from the West to poor countries in Africa and Asia leads to considerable health and environmental problems in the recipient countries due mainly to the lack of waste treatment facilities, according to Basel Action Network. It is estimated that up to 25% of hazardous waste from Norway ends up in Africa and Asia. Export of hazardous waste from rich to poor countries is forbidden by the Basel Convention adopted by the UN.

The Norwegian non-profit organisation FAIR began to export used EE equipment to its aid projects in Africa four years ago. When the first consignments were sent to each country, FAIR left a freight container with a number of extra computers in the yard of the recipient schools. School computers which broke down were then placed in the containers, and in this way the school could exchange each non-functioning computer for a working second-hand one.

After three years of recycling, 15% of the equipment was discarded for a second time, whereas the average recycling time for a computer is over four years. FAIR's first return container of discarded ICT equipment arrived in Norway this week from Kenya and is now being recycled by the official take-back company Eurovironment AS. FAIR is a member of Eurovironment. “We think FAIR has come up with a very responsible solution to this problem, and we are very happy to be able to contribute to this exciting project.” commented Trond Lohre, Managing Director of Eurovironment AS.

FAIR it self is responsible for the development of this recycling loop of EE equipment between Norway and Africa. Never before has discarded EE equipment been returned from developing countries to developed countries for certified recycling. FAIR’s unique return system has been praised by the UN and large organisations in Europe, the USA and Canada have contacted FAIR to learn more about the system. Now that the first return consignment is being properly recycled in Norway, the process has come full circle and the viability of the concept has been demonstrated. “We now hope that other Western organisations which export equipment to poor countries will adopt the same model as FAIR in order to compensate for the damage caused.” concludes Snorre Østlund.

The container which arrived this week is the first of three return consignments planned for this year and even more are expected next year. FAIR’s unique return system for discarded EE equipment has been financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation NORAD and the 80 Norwegian companies certified through FAIR Recycling.