NamiGreen E-waste Announces Major Changes to Recycling Program

NamiGreen E-waste, the leader in environmentally responsible electronic waste recycling in Namibia, announces two important updates to its recycling program.

NamiGreen announces two important changes to its recycling program: 1) discontinuance of its printer cartridges recycling program, and 2) introduction of charges to recycling operations.

Discontinuance of NamiGreens printer cartridges recycling program

Effective November 1, 2023, NamiGreen (www.namigreen.com) will no longer accept printer cartridges for recycling. It has proven to be too costly to recycle printer cartridges in Namibia with the current industry setup.

The decision to discontinue the acceptance of printer cartridges is part of NamiGreen’s ongoing commitment to maximize the environmental benefits of its recycling program. While the company recognizes the importance of recycling all forms of electronic waste, it believes that the recycling of printer cartridges requires subsidizing on a national level to prevent landfilling. In its current form, It is very costly to deal with individual printer cartridges. In addition, they contain hazardous components that easily leak and pollute the environment and water reservoirs. The company, however, will still recycle printers and other electronic devices.

Recycling certificates fees

For a long time, NamiGreen has offered its clients 'Recycling Certificates' free of charge, upon successfully recycling their e-waste. Besides providing proof of proper recycling, the certificate enables companies to write-off their old IT-equipment in accordance with the Namibian legislation. Our certificates, which now include CO2-measurements, also provide access to a private recycling portal which allows clients to measure the impact of their recycling efforts. "This is something we have seen a lot of clients request, as many of our clients must adhere to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate governance) requirements. This is well in line with the green movement we see sweeping across the world", says Mr. Per Hansen of NamiGreen. He continues "Namibia is currently experiencing a huge focus on green hydrogen these days, however, recycling of e-waste is just as important for our future".

Effective from November 01, 2023, a fee of N$500 will be charged on all recycling certificates. In addition, a sliding scale for payment will be introduced for companies and bulk providers of e-waste. These fees will range from N$ 4-00 per kg down to N$ 2-00 per kg depending on the amounts of e-waste provided. Our clients are thus encouraged to engage with NamiGreen for clarification and determination of rates to be charged. The intention is not to burden our clients with unnecessary costs, however, with the rising costs of living, Namigreen is no longer able to shoulder the financial burden of providing its services for free. For almost 5 years, NamiGreen has provided its services free of charge and relied solely on the value of materials recovered but the model has proven unsustainable.

NamiGreen appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all its clients. The company remains dedicated to providing exceptional recycling services and encourages everyone to continue recycling their electronic waste responsibly.

For more information about what items are accepted and updated fee structure, please visit https://www.namigreen.com

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