Aasai

Give Your Old Electronics a Second Life – Here’s How

Do you have old phones, broken laptops, dead batteries, or faulty kitchen appliances gathering dust in your home? Instead of tossing them in the trash or letting them pile up, North Rift residents now have a safe and responsible way to dispose of e-waste at the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Centre in Eldoret National Polytechnic.

With the rapid advancement of technology, electronic waste has become one of the fastest-growing environmental concerns in Kenya. Many people don’t realize that improperly discarded electronics release toxic chemicals into the environment, contaminating soil, water sources, and even the air we breathe.

Why Proper E-Waste Disposal Matters

Electronic waste contains harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which pose serious health and environmental risks if not handled correctly.

🔴 Soil and Water Pollution – Heavy metals from discarded gadgets can seep into the soil, affecting crop production and livestock health.
🔴 Toxic Air Emissions – When e-waste is burned or improperly dumped, it releases hazardous chemicals that contribute to climate change and respiratory illnesses.
🔴 Health Risks – Direct exposure to e-waste can cause neurological disorders, kidney damage, and other severe health conditions.

To combat these dangers, the WEEE Centre has provided a designated drop-off point where residents can safely dispose of their electronic waste without harming the environment.

Where to Take Your E-Waste in North Rift

The WEEE Centre in Eldoret is the official drop-off location for residents in:
✅ Uasin Gishu
✅ Trans Nzoia
✅ West Pokot
✅ Nandi
✅ Elgeyo Marakwet
✅ Baringo

If you can’t visit the centre, you can arrange for e-waste collection by contacting them through their official website.

What Items Can You Drop Off?

The following items are accepted for safe disposal:
✅ Phones, laptops, and tablets
✅ Old TVs, fridges, and kitchen appliances
✅ Batteries, bulbs, and spotlights
✅ Computers and accessories
✅ Obsolete or broken electronics

Do You Get Paid for E-Waste?

The WEEE Centre does not buy e-waste, but they offer free disposal services. Once you drop off your old electronics, they are weighed, and after about a month, you receive a certificate of environmental contribution for helping to protect the planet.

A National Effort to Manage E-Waste

The ICT Authority (ICTA) has also launched a National Refurbishment Centre in Nairobi, which specializes in recycling government-owned obsolete electronic equipment. Instead of discarding electronics, institutions can refurbish and repurpose them for use in digital hubs.

Take Action Today!

E-waste is a growing crisis, but with responsible disposal, we can reduce pollution, protect our health, and safeguard our environment. Don’t let your old electronics become a hazard—drop them off at Eldoret National Polytechnic’s WEEE Centre today!

Every gadget recycled is a step toward a cleaner, greener Kenya.

Video: example of waste disposal in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s waste-to-energy plant is the first one of its kind in Africa.

- 1,400 tons of waste burned a day.
- Power for 25% of Addis Ababa's houses.
- 3 million bricks made from the ash.
- 30 million liters of water recovered from the waste.pic.twitter.com/GMX1CZbpFc

— CIS (UK) Ltd (@CISGroupUK) June 10, 2018