The project will start in South Africa and will be replicated by MTN across its operations in more than 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

According to the latest e-waste Assessment Report South Africa, e-waste volumes are expected to increase significantly in South Africa in the next few years.

As in many countries in Africa, the expected rise in e-waste volume in South Africa is compounded by the challenges South Africa faces at the level of consumer awareness, collection, recycling processes, and the disposal of e-waste.

Several countries in the region do not have the ICT policies in place that support the establishment of e-recycling plants. Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Zambia are all currently struggling to cope with e-waste management.

Due to lack of laws on how to dispose of used ICT equipment, Zambia, like many other countries in Africa, uses the technology- and service-neutral approach system. This system requires that all ICT equipment being imported or exported meet international standards.