Governing solar electronic waste recycling in Kenya - Project on the collection and recycling of electronic waste from off-grid solar devices in Kenya

This project will conduct research in Kenya as a regional ’hot spot’ for solar e-waste with the aim to identify appropriate private and public schemes for the collection and recycling of electronic waste from small-scale, off-grid solar devices in a manner that create economic value for local communities. The project comprises of three interlinked work packages focusing on analyzing: (1) the role of leading solar system suppliers in governing and managing e-waste from their devices; (2) the disposal practices of end-users and the processing of solar e-waste in local recycling economies; and (3) scenarios for future regulation and planning of solar e-waste in Kenya. The project is funded by the Danish Grant for Development Research under DANIDA.

The findings from the project will feed into the political process in Kenya through close engagement with key government agencies and stakeholders involved in e-waste regulation. The project will contribute to advance the literature on global value chains specifically on waste and post-consumption processes, which will allow for analyses of end-user product disposal practices, processing of waste in local recycling economies, and waste planning and regulation. The project is designed to advance relevant research capacity in Kenya especially from younger-level research involved in the project.