The document outlines the process and costs required to formally establish a small e-waste recycling business in South Africa. It notes that the minimum start-up costs are approximately R200,000 with minimum monthly operating costs of R40,000. The process takes around 12 months and requires business registration, tax registration, licensing, monitoring, obtaining supplies, premises, tools, and personal protective equipment. While formalizing helps legitimacy, it significantly increases operating expenses for small businesses, making profitability challenging. The document advocates for reforms to licensing requirements and policies around e-waste handling to help small formal recyclers in South Africa.

1. B Yose, B.Tech Elec Eng
E-Waste Recycling Technician
Department of Economic Development ,Environmental Affairs and Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa
Formalisation of E-waste
Recycling: Making it a Reality

2. Aim and goal of KZN e-waste recycling pilot project
Small formal (e-waste recycling) business = 5 workers
Trend of emerging e-waste recyclers
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

3. Be declared as a legal entity
CIPC Registration = R550 + Annual Renewal (R100)
Tax registration = Free + business bank account
Bank account = R2000 + Monthly bank charges
Total :
(R2 550) ( 3 months) October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

4. Be organized
Obtain finances
Total :
(R7 000 – R12 000) (2 months) October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

5. Be regulated
E-waste management license
E-waste recycling small business
Category A on waste management activity list
(Basic Assessment)
Total :
(R50 000) (1 month)
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

6. Be monitored
E-waste monitoring body
EWASA
Total :
R2500 + R2000 annual renewal
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

7. Be organized
Obtain supply of the e-waste to be recycled
Total :
(R960) (1 month)
Government Private and
Households
Lots of paperwork No paperwork
BBBEE Certification
( R960 + Accountant + Annual Renewal)
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

8. Be organized
Premises, Tools and PPE
Warehouse = Deposit + Rent + Utilities rates
= R20 000 + R13 000 + Utilities rates
Tools and PPE= R43 300
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition
Total Costs
First month Monthly
R76 300 R13 000 + Utilities rates

9. Exercise Summary
Min start-up up cost = R200 000
Min monthly operating costs = R40 000
Min time to set up the business = 12 months
Summarily formal business needs:
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition

10. Profit
Impact of e-waste management license on the business
Expensive e-waste logistics costs
Government asset disposal policies
October 2014
22nd Conference & Exhibition
Costing Formal Informal
Cost of recycling 1 PC R58 R0
Income for recycling 1 PC R61 R61
Profit R3 R61

11. Informal Recycling
No compliance with any
legislation

12. Countries China India South Africa
Assessment Year 2007 2007 2007
PCs 300 000 56 300 19 400
Printers 60 000 4 700 4 300
Mobile Phones 7 000 1 700 850
TVs 1 350 000 275 000 23 700
Refrigerators 495 000 101 300 11 400
Total e-waste (tonnes) 2 212 000 439 000 59 650
Predicted assessment Year 2011 2011 2011
Max % increase 400% 500% 400%
Max e-waste increase 6 636 000 1 756 000 178 950
Total e-waste (tonnes) 8 848 000 2 195 000 238 600
Actual assessment Year 2012 2012 2012
Max % increase 328% 626% 570%
Max e-waste increase 5 038 000 2 311 000 280 350
Total e-waste (tonnes) 7 250 000 2 750 000 340 000
Difference between predicted and actual e-waste generation
Diff in maximum % increase -72% 126% 170%

13. Issue Remedy
Stakeholder for
change
Funds
Waste management
licence
Benchmark for
obtaining funds
Stop making waste
management
benchmark for
obtaining funding
Government
Very expensive
Develop e-waste
recycling norms and
standards
Government and
Academia
Non payment for e-waste disposal
Charge of recycling
fees
Government
Large e-waste volumes and Transportation resources
Government e-waste disposal policies
Ammend asset
disposal policies
Government
Handle logistic costs
Electronic Equipment
Producers

14. B Yose, BTech Elec Eng
E-Waste Recycling Technician
Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa
Tel: 033-343 8284
Email: babalwa.yose@kzndae.gov.za
Thank you for your attention.
Any questions?