Waste Management of Disposed Mobile Phones in Kenya

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to determine the appropriate methods to be employed in the management of electronic (mobile phones) wastes in Kenya. The specific objectives were; to assess the effects of mobile phones wastes; to determine the mobile phone waste management methods used in Kenya today; to identify how the effectiveness of such methods; and to propose recommendations on the methods to be employed in the management of mobile phones wastes. The tremendous growth in mobile phone wastes and poor method of disposing wastes in Kenya had made the mobile phone management process complex. This creates a lot of health and environmental problem to the country because the metal substances from the mobile phones wastes are hazardous Literature available gives an indication that mobile phones wastes have economic, social and environmental effects that need to be addressed. Several international policies as well as local policies, which the government of Kenya is supporting, aim at ensuring that there is control of the mobile phone wastes and its effects. There are also several measures that are taken by both the formal and informal sectors in mobile phone waste management. However most of these measures are either ineffective of are not appropriate. Cross sectional descriptive research design was used, with the sample of respondents involved in the study selected randomly from different strata. The strata included the government, businesses and companies. Data was collected using primary data collection methods and analysed with the help of SPSS and MS Excel. From the findings respondents ranked highly the suggested recommendations for management of mobile phone waste with a grand average of 81%. Up scaling current and starting new take back schemes by manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, start recycling initiatives and get buy-in from councillors and municipality officials before awareness is created amongst the public, involvement of and partnerships with the private sector to provide collection service for recyclables to alleviate the cost and time implications on municipalities and the easier it is for communities to dispose of recyclables, the more likely they are to take part in the initiative were among the highest ranked recommendations.