Sustainable e-waste solutions
Whether reconditioned or not, ICT equipment can pose a serious environmental threat when it reaches its end-of-life. While much of the Western world has the necessary infrastructure and regulatory support to oversee proper management of e-waste, the developing world often lacks the expertise and infrastructure needed to do this.
What does WorldLoop do?
In 2009 Close the Gap launched WorldLoop, a public-private partnership to facilitate the creation of an environmentally sound e-waste management system in developing countries. Since then, WorldLoop supports the end-of-life management of ICT equipment in different African countries.
WorldLoop strives to achieve its mission – to reduce the negative environmental impact of end-of-life ICT equipment – by helping to create accessible, environmentally sound, socially responsible and sustainable e-waste recycling solutions, and ultimately turning e-waste into a sustainable economic resource.
In 2023, WorldLoop was incorporated into Close the Gap and its legacy therefore lives on through its sister organization. WorldLoop no longer actively engages in e-waste projects, but Close the Gap carries on its offsetting efforts.
Concretely, for every computer device that Close the Gap sends to partner organizations in the Global South, at least 20kg of e-waste is being collected, dismantled and recycled by local recycling organizations from WorldLoop's network.
What can you do?
Supporters of Close the Gap can also offset their IT donations and reduce carbon emission by supporting the sustainable end-of-life management of the assets while promoting local job creation and protecting the environment by participating in the e-Resource Certificate Programme.
Your possible impact
For every 1 ton of e-waste collected and properly recycled, 1.44 tons of CO2 emissions are avoided.
The e-Resource Certificate Programme ensures that all e-waste fractions, both valuable and hazardous, end up in proper treatment streams. The mechanism to make this happen are the e-Resource Certificates, which fund:
- Local entrepreneurs in developing countries to start up e-waste collection and dismantling activities
- Local e-waste awareness raising and collection campaigns
- The assurance that the highest standards are met for training, environmental compliance, and business management
- The assurance that all e-waste fractions are treated for 100% in an environmentally sound way
Interested? Reach out to projects@close-the-gap.org to discuss the options.
Watch our interactive web documentary Let's Talk Trash.
2537
Tonnes of e-waste recycled
59 000
# offsetting certificates purchased