Zambia is taking steps to prevent e-waste from being imported into the country for disposal.

The Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) has stationed officers at all of the country’s border checkpoints in an attempt to prevent electronic waste from being brought into the country.

ZEMA’s information and communications officer Irene Chipili told ITWeb Africa that the country does not have the capacity to dispose of hazardous e-waste imported into the country by individuals and organisations. “We have to export electronic wastes to appropriate countries like Finland for disposal,” said Chipili.

According to ITWeb Africa, a container filled with old electronic products was intercepted at the Chirundu border. ZEMA and the Zambia Bureau of Standards also seized hundreds of electrical appliances including television sets, radio cassettes and DVD players from a warehouse in Lusaka considered to be below accepted standards.