Abstract
Society's dependence on electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has seen the EEE
production industry as a rapidly rising one. On average, the annual consumption rate of EEE
increases by 2.5 million metric tonnes (Mt), alluding to an exponential increase. The rapid
product innovation of EEE coupled with constant miniaturisation, the decrease in its lifespan and
replacement before its end-of-life creates a lot of waste EEE (WEEE). As such, the growth rate
of WEEE follows the same trend as the production of EEE. In 2019, the global WEEE
generation stood at 53.6 Mt and was projected to reach 74.7 Mt in 2030, almost doubling in less
than two decades (Forti et al., 2020). These figures are concerning as the global management
of WEEE is not well-established in many countries, owing to the absence of formal structures in
many developing countries. South Africa is no exception, as reclaimers are essential to the
WEEE value chain. The presence of reclaimers in WEEE management is due to the valuable
recyclable materials found in discarded EEE. As some components are toxic the methods used
by the informal sector to obtain the valuable components of WEEE are associated with several
environmental and health concerns.
South Africa handles between 11.0% and 12.0% of the generated WEEE sustainably. The
informal sector is estimated to handle 20.0% of the sustainably managed WEEE. The figures
could be high as most WEEE handled by this sector makes its way to the formal sector as it is
sold to buyback centres and scrap yards. The Gauteng province is home to more than a quarter
of the South African population (StatsSA, 2018). It is, therefore, inevitable that it is responsible
for the bulk of WEEE generated in the country. The province also hosts around 50 000
reclaimers working in it, potentially handling the generated WEEE (Tseke, 2017). Therefore, this
study evaluated training sessions hosted for Gauteng reclaimers to equip them with the correct
knowledge, skills, and tools to handle WEEE sustainably.
A mixed-methods research approach and a questionnaire were used for this study. The training
hosted 20 reclaimers operating in Gauteng. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics
to analyse the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. The
Kirkpatrick model of evaluation was used to evaluate the training of reclaimers. It focused on the
reactions and learning of the reclaimers.
The results indicated that most reclaimers dismantle and process their WEEE before selling.
The dismantling and processing aspects of WEEE are done mainly by hand, with outdated tools
such as hammers and screwdrivers and burning also being employed. Before the training, most
respondents had little to no knowledge of WEEE, or competence in repairing and refurbishing
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such products. However, there were some who knew the importance of wearing PPE to protect
themselves against the risks of handling waste. After the training, their knowledge of WEEE and
their level of competence in repairing and refurbishing increased significantly, with most
participants indicating a high level of competence in these learning areas. The results for before
and after training were tested for statistical significance and revealed a p-value <0.01 at an
α=0.05, indicating that the results are statistically significant.
The results also indicated that most participants were satisfied with their overall training
experience and the trainers. Most participants agreed (40.0%) and strongly agreed (40.0%) that
the training was effectively organised. While 50.0% and 45.0% stated that they agreed and
strongly agreed, respectively, that the training objectives were clearly defined and met, all
training participants indicated that they would recommend the training to their colleagues. Some
stated that they would like them to gain the knowledge and skills that they had learnt in training
to handle WEEE sustainably. The results also revealed that most (70.0%) respondents were
very likely to apply the skills they had learnt in training in their daily lives. Trainers are essential
in ensuring that training sessions are a success; as such, the study evaluated the inputs of
these trainers in this training. The results indicated that most participants were pleased with the
trainers as they agreed and strongly agreed with various statements used to evaluate the
trainers. Many of the participants strongly agreed that the trainers were patient and facilitated
their learning (75.0%), were engaging and responded to questions (70.0%), and enabled them
to be fully engaged in the learning (65.0%).
The trainees recommended that future training include large WEEE appliances since they tend
to come across them when collecting recyclables. The study recommended that more research
be conducted on reclaimers, particularly their role in waste management and the environmental
impact of their activities, so that their sustainability contributions can be clearly captured and
illustrated.
Keywords : WEEE, reclaimers, repair, refurbishment, training, evaluation, Kirkpatrick model, Gauteng.