THE CAMEROON SCENARIO OF E-WASTE

THE CAMEROON SCENARIO

Republic of Cameroon

While the world is marvelling at the technological revolution, countries like Cameroon and other developing African Countries are facing an imminent danger. E-waste of developed countries, such as the US, and Europe are disposed in Cameroon, India, and other African countries. A recent investigation revealed that much of the electronics turned over for recycling in the United States and Europe ends up in Cameroon, where they are either disposed of or recycled with little or no regard for environmental or worker health and safety. Major reasons for exports are cheap labour and lack of environmental and occupational standards in Africa and in this way the toxic effluent of the developed nations 'would flood towards the world's poorest nations. The magnitude of these problems is yet to be documented. However, nation based NGOs like the Centre for Communication and Sustainable Development for All (CECOSDA) in partnership with MINEPDED and other groups are already working on collecting data that could be a step towards controlling this hazardous trade.

It is imperative that developing countries and Cameroon in particular wake up to the monopoly of the developed countries and set up appropriate management measures to prevent the hazards and mishaps due to mismanagement of e-wastes.

In addition, Cameroon through MINEPDED has put in place several implementation to better curb the waste management (including E-waste) stream in the Country. Some of these laws include:

• Cameroon: Collection, Recycling, Reuse, Storage, Transport and Treatment of Waste, Decree 2012
• Cameroon: Environmental Management Law
• Cameroon: Regulation of Hazardous and Dangerous Substances, Decree 2011 
• Joint Order No. 005 MINEPDED/MINCOMMERCE of 24 October 2012 establishing specific conditions for management of electrical and electronic equipment waste