E-waste management and recycling
Challenge
Solar appliances and devices have been distributed or established across refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar to meet energy and protection needs, but limited skills, maintenance issues, and sometimes quality-control limitations impact the equipment’s lifespan, creating e-waste.
Solution
UNHCR is developing a system for e-waste collection, value-chain analysis, recycling, and repurposing, by developing refugee skills to refurbish appliances and other products, and assessing a take-back scheme for recycling and potentially refurbishing solar appliances
Impact
Improved waste management to reduce negative environmental impact, creation of livelihood opportunities, and extended equipment lifespans. More than 40,000 people are expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, from the programme.
Project impact
Other information
Upon completion, the project entered a second phase thanks to follow-up funding through the Environment and Climate Action Innovation Fund. The new initiative – Agents of Change: Energy Ambassadors for Solar Repair and Maintenance – aims to utilize the knowledge from the first phase and test circular models for continued and sustainable e-waste collection, repair, and redistribution.