European Vice-President Neelie Kroes opens first “Close the Gap” hazardous e-waste centre in Africa.
Posted on 27/09/2011
Led by European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, a high-level delegation of EU representatives, corporate supporters and partners inaugurated Close the Gap’s first centre in Africa for WEEE treatment and proper disposition of sensitive materials on 27th September.
The Nairobi centre is also the first in the East African Community (EAC) to deploy a 12-metre long fully-automated cathode ray tube (CRT) cutting machine, acquired and provided by Close the Gap.
“This centre in Nairobi represents an important step towards reducing health and environmental consequences of dumping hazardous electronic trash in the region” said Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda, after placing the first CRT screen in the cutter.
Close the Gap already finances a network of regional manual recycling centres for electronic waste in the EAC, operated by its local partner DPA Kenya. The Nairobi centre, operated in partnership with DPA Kenya, now takes e-waste treatment to a much more environment-friendly level.
“In addition to damaging public health and the environment, untreated e-waste hinders the development of ICT projects which are so vital for developing countries” said Mr. Olivier Vanden Eynde, Founder and Managing Director of Close the Gap, at the opening ceremony.
Bridging the digital divide
Brussels-based Close the Gap is a non-profit organization that helps bridge the digital divide in the world. It collects computers and other IT material from companies in Europe, reconditions them and supplies them to existing locally-managed projects in developing countries, mainly for use in schools, universities and hospitals.
By giving a second life to IT material, the process helps companies in Europe act more responsibly and gives citizens of the developing world an opportunity to progress through the use of IT. More than 160,000 computers have been collected since 2004, supporting 650 projects in 40 countries. Through cooperation with local partners, Close the Gap increasingly offers all-inclusive solutions, including training, technical support and online software.
Close the Gap is endorsed by the UNDPI department (United Nations Department of Public Information) and operates as a recognized NGO within the Millennium Development Goal, MDG 8 – Target 5 whose mandate is to “in cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.”
E-waste certificates generate new PCs
This new WEEE teardown processing centre in the EAC is financed through a mechanism of e-waste certificates, issued and managed by Close the Gap’s e-waste program called “WorldPC”. Certificates financed in Europe release a corresponding number of computer systems recycled in Nairobi on a “like-for-like” basis. In other words, for one donated asset from Europe with an e-waste certificate, one asset can be recycled in Africa.
More than 5,000 certificates have been purchased by European early-believers and issued since the program started in February 2011. Among others KLM, a loyal partner and computer donor to Close the Gap for more than 7 years, also supports the E-Waste program by purchasing E-Waste Certificates. It is in this specific context that Jappe Blaauw, KLM Group CIO, received from Vice-President Neelie Kroes a certificate attesting that all the 552 PCs offered by KLM during the last 12 months, were fully recycled through this new innovative E-Waste recycling process.
Schools programme
Close the Gap also collaborates with Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK) to support ICT implementation in hundreds of Kenyan primary and secondary schools. In partnership with private partners, Close the Gap has provided more than 2,500 computers to around 120 Kenyan schools over the last two years. This program is funded through Close the Gap by the Belgian domain name authority DNS.be.
“In addition to damaging public health and the environment, untreated e-waste hinders the development of ICT projects which are so vital for developing countries” said Mr. Olivier Vanden Eynde, Founder and Managing Director of Close the Gap, at the opening ceremony.
Bridging the digital divide
Brussels-based Close the Gap is a non-profit organization that helps bridge the digital divide in the world. It collects computers and other IT material from companies in Europe, reconditions them and supplies them to existing locally-managed projects in developing countries, mainly for use in schools, universities and hospitals.
By giving a second life to IT material, the process helps companies in Europe act more responsibly and gives citizens of the developing world an opportunity to progress through the use of IT. More than 160,000 computers have been collected since 2004, supporting 650 projects in 40 countries. Through cooperation with local partners, Close the Gap increasingly offers all-inclusive solutions, including training, technical support and online software.
Close the Gap is endorsed by the UNDPI department (United Nations Department of Public Information) and operates as a recognized NGO within the Millennium Development Goal, MDG 8 – Target 5 whose mandate is to “in cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.”
E-waste certificates generate new PCs
This new WEEE teardown processing centre in the EAC is financed through a mechanism of e-waste certificates, issued and managed by Close the Gap’s e-waste program called “WorldPC”. Certificates financed in Europe release a corresponding number of computer systems recycled in Nairobi on a “like-for-like” basis. In other words, for one donated asset from Europe with an e-waste certificate, one asset can be recycled in Africa.
More than 5,000 certificates have been purchased by European early-believers and issued since the program started in February 2011. Among others KLM, a loyal partner and computer donor to Close the Gap for more than 7 years, also supports the E-Waste program by purchasing E-Waste Certificates. It is in this specific context that Jappe Blaauw, KLM Group CIO, received from Vice-President Neelie Kroes a certificate attesting that all the 552 PCs offered by KLM during the last 12 months, were fully recycled through this new innovative E-Waste recycling process.
Schools programme
Close the Gap also collaborates with Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK) to support ICT implementation in hundreds of Kenyan primary and secondary schools. In partnership with private partners, Close the Gap has provided more than 2,500 computers to around 120 Kenyan schools over the last two years. This program is funded through Close the Gap by the Belgian domain name authority DNS.be.
Peter Sabbe, CEO Recupel, was present in Nairobi to officialise this collaboration in presence of Neelie Kroes.
The ultimate goal is the realization of an auto-funded WEEE-recycling and take-back scheme adapted to the needs and wants of the East African Community.
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