Overview on the Regulations and Technical Requirements for E-Waste Management in Rwanda. RURA

Presentation Outline Background Objective of the Regulations. Categories &Types of Licenses for operators in E-waste Management. General Responsibilities of the Licensee. Inspection and Compliance with these Regulations. Faults and Administrative sanctions. Transitional & Final Provisions.

Background Government of Rwanda identified Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as an enabling factor for the socio-economic development of the country. ICT adoption leads to increased use of ICT electric and electronic equipment which gradually reaches end of life, and hence referred to as e-waste. Poor handling of e-waste can lead to hazards that affect human health and the environment. Hence, the need to have in place an appropriate e-waste management Regulations to address the challenges it can pose to both human and the environment

Legal basis These regulations are based on The Organic Law N° 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda, especially in its article 33; The law Nº09/2013 of 01/03/2013 establishing Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and determining its mission, powers, organization and functioning; The Law N°24/2016 of 18/06/2016 governing Information and Communication Technologies especially in article 130 (60)

Current Situation Rwanda Bureau of Standards has specific standards addressing e-waste management. Rwanda as a country has Established E-waste handling facility in Bugesera .

Scope &Objective of these regulations These regulations apply to every producer, retailer, importer, collector, dismantler, recycler, refurbishes, consumer or anyone involved in the manufacturing, assembly, sale, purchase, use and processing of electronic and electrical equipment or E-waste in Rwanda. These regulations are established for protection of the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment and by promoting resource efficient through reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery of E-waste in environmental friendly manner.

TYPES OF LICENCES FOR E-WASTE MANAGEMENT Three types of licenses for E-waste management. 1-Collection $ Transportation Service License 2-Dismantling $Refurbishment Service License 3-Recycling Service License

General requirements for license applications in each type of license Any company, cooperative providing or seeking to carry out activities of collection, transportation, dismantling, refurbishment and recycling services must first fulfill the following: Application letter addressed to Director General accompanied by: Application form filled out correctly by applicant; A copy of incorporation certificate; Bank slip of payment of application fees; Supporting documentation for availability for an appropriate facility for the E waste Management;

Technical requirements of e-waste collection/Transportation Have adequate equipment for collection and transportation as specified in E-waste standard; To prove that there will be segregation at source of e-waste with other types of solid waste and that it will handled separately in accordance with standard; Have a Collection Point adequate to serve the geographical area and the volume of separated e-waste tonnage captured. Acquire the certificate of EIA if the applicant intends to construct a storage facility.

Technical requirements for Refurbishment/Disposal License as well as Recycling Facilities Any person wishes to refurbish/disposal e-waste shall: Have an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken before establishing e-waste facility; Have an Environmental Audit (EA) for existing facilities; Have the appropriate facility complying with the environmental standards.

Responsibilities of collectors and transporters Any collector and transporter of e-waste shall: Ensure that the e-waste collected is stored in proper and secured manner till is sent to the licensed dismantler or recycler; Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment and human health during storage and transportation of e-waste;  Keep records of the e-waste handled and make such records available for scrutiny of the Regulatory Authority; Ensure e-waste is properly packed while being transported; Ensure the transporting trucks are appropriately and completely closed;  Ensure e-waste is transported to the licensed e-waste handling facility.

Responsibilities of dismantler and refurbishes Any dismantler and refurbishes shall: Ensure that no damage is caused to the environment and human health during dismantling and refurbishing of e-waste; Ensure that the facility and dismantling processes are in accordance with the national published standards; Ensure that dismantled E-waste are segregated and sent to the recycling facilities for recovery of materials; Ensure that non-recyclable/non-recoverable components are sent to the authorized treatment storage and disposal facilities; Maintain and keep records of the e-waste dismantled and make such records available for scrutiny by the Regulatory Authority; Ensure that the resultant e-waste is transferred to a licensed collection center or to licensed dismantlers; Ensure that the refurbished equipment meet the minimum standards set by the standard body; Maintain and keep records of the e-waste refurbished and make such records available for scrutiny by the Regulatory Authority.

Responsibilities of recycler Any recycler shall: Ensure that the facility and recycling processes are in accordance with the standards published by national Standard body; Ensure that the recycling processes do not have any adverse effect on human health and the environment; Ensure that the residues generated thereof are disposed off in a hazardous waste treatment storage facility for disposal; Maintain and keep records of the e-waste recycled and make such records available for scrutiny by the Regulatory Authority.

Compliance with the output of the audits and inspections If the audits and inspections prove that the licensee do not comply with laws and regulations, The Regulatory Authority shall: Issue a notice to the operator to summon him to remedy the situation of non-compliance with obligations; If the licensee do not correct the mistake after receiving a notice letter, the Regulatory Authority may apply relevant sanctions as provided in these regulations; If it found that the licensee is not willing or unable to correct the mistake, the license may be revoked.

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS Transitional provision All entities seeking for providing services related to E-waste management shall apply for license as stated in these regulations. Operators who are operating without licenses are given a period of six months (6) to comply with the provisions of these Regulations from the date of signature by chairperson of the Regulatory Board. Repealing provision All prior provisions contrary to this regulation are hereby repealed. Commencement This regulation shall take effect as of the date of signature by chairperson of the Regulatory Board.