Electronic gadgets, which include computers, mobile phones and television sets, constitute a large proportion of dumpsite material in Kenya, exposing the population to danger.

Last month, the United Nations warned that over 50 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) from the industrialised world was being dumped in Africa.

“Locally, there may not be as many PCs or mobile phones being disposed of to cause an alarm yet,” said Mr Tom Musili, the executive chairman of Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK), a non-governmental organisation that rehabilitates used computers for donation to learning institutions.

But in the developed world, organisations such as Mr Musili’s have become the most favoured channel for the disposal of electronic gadgets.

Through this channel, computers as old as the Commodore 64 that were last used in the United States in the 80s have been shipped to Africa. Often left to rot in expansive dumping grounds, electronic waste contains a wide range of toxins including cadmium, mercury and lead that contaminate water sources and wreak havoc on agricultural land.

The UN says much of the e-waste ends up on garbage dumps where they decompose and release dangerous elements such as lead, canadium, and mercury. CFSK disputes the claim, saying the donated computers could last for at least three years.

This year the company received more computers pushing the total number received in the past four years to 5,000. Mr Musili said part of the company’s future plan is to establish a regular channel for disposal of the computers. “We are collecting computers from various groups and disposing of them or recycling reusable parts to save them from rotting on garbage dumps,” said Mr Musili.

The volume of electric waste generated locally is expected to rise sharply as the country makes the transition from analog to digital broadcasting.

This together with proliferation of mobile phones in the ongoing wireless revolution should add to the pile of electronic waste that environmental activists say could have significant impact on agriculture and the food chain.

The National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) says it is formulating a new policy to stem the inflow of such waste into the country. “We are yet to establish a system of control to curb the movement of these hazardous gadgets, but such a system will be in place by end of the year,” said Mr Benjamin Langwen, the assistant director of enforcement at Nema.

The authority has called the practice illegal, and hopes to create a more stringent guide to dictate how electronic waste will be handled.

Software manufacturer Microsoft has unveiled plans to recover unwanted computers and hand them over to small and medium-sized businesses and industries located in African countries.

The new business line is expected to create more jobs on the continent as select companies recondition the equipment. Under the company’s plan, the entrepreneurs will also be expected to sell the reconditioned machines with Microsoft software pre-installed on them.

“Between now and 2010, a billion computers should be recycled worldwide and Africa can take advantage of half of them,” said Cheick Diarra, Microsoft Africa’s president, at a recent in Abidjan. According to estimates, the project will be expensive for the software giant.

Recycled computers are usually worth between US$25 and US$90. Microsoft plans to buy several million tonnes of equipment for the programme.

The UK, which produces an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of e-waste each year, introduced a similar policy program last week. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive requires four kilogrammes of e-waste to be recycled per person with effect from July. Under the new rules, manufacturers have to fund recycling schemes, while retailers must offer take-back services to customers.