Country Status
In 2022, Malawi generated 11 million kilograms of e-waste, which represents 0,5 kilograms of e-waste generated per capita. In Malawi, a draft National Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste Management Policy is currently in the process of being approved. The policy was developed via a detailed process of stakeholder consultation and validation and will be implemented over a 5-year period. It will be Malawi's first guiding document for e-waste management. Furthermore, with support from the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), a recent national quantification study found that the availability of EEE in Malawi has increased significantly, from 1,3 million kg in 1995 to 12,5 million kg in 2022. This has been accompanied by a concomitant rise in the amount of e-waste generated.
- E-waste Generated (million kg): 11
- E-waste Generated (kg per capita): 0,5
- E-waste Documented as Formally Collected and Recycled: N/A
- E-waste Policy, Legislation or Regulation: No
- EPR on E-Waste: No
- Collection Target in Place: No
- Recycling Target in Place: No
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ITU and E-waste in Malawi
ITU has been providing assistance to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) and the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) on strengthening the national capacity on e-waste data and on developing policy instruments specific to e-waste. One of the most pressing issues in Malawi in the management of e-waste is the lack of allocation of clear roles and responsibilities among various actors, which will be addressed in upcoming regulatory developments on e-waste management.
- ITU – UNITAR-SCYCLE (2021 – 2024)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research SCYCLE Programme (UNITAR-SCYCLE) are working with MACRA, EAD and the Malawi National Statistics Office to build national capacity on e-waste data and statistics in Malawi. The project followed a three-phased approach consisting of data preparation, statistical workshop, and national model assessment. A first phase consisted of gathering data from all relevant sources and stakeholders in Malawi. The second phase consisted in a 3-day workshop from 28 to 30 April 2021, which was attended by stakeholder groups from MACRA, the National Statistics Office, EAD, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Information, and towns and city councils. The workshop was delivered in cooperation with the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics, allowing for experience-sharing on national e-waste quantitative assessment. Participants were involved in practical activities to test the SCYCLE E-waste Toolkit for e-waste put on the market and e-waste generated, using Malawi's data. During the workshop, participants produced a national roadmap to compile e-waste statistics.
ITU – UNEP (2021 – 2023)ITU, in collaboration with MACRA and EAD has supported the Government in developing a national e-waste policy for Malawi. A series of national consultations have been held in 2021 and 2022, including both public and private sector, in order to define strategies relating to the roles, duties and responsibilities of actors involved in the e-waste value chain. A preliminary draft of the National Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste Management Policy was developed with the cooperation of a dedicated national task team and ITU international and local experts. The policy is currently in a validation phase to proceed to implementation, for example through the drafting of a dedicated e-waste regulation, as well as awareness-raising at the national level on e-waste management.
