Turning e-waste into skills, businesses and green jobs
The E-Waste for Youth Employment Project equipped young people in Limpopo with practical recycling, safety and entrepreneurship skills.
The International Labour Organization implemented the project with funding from the Government of Japan. eWASA supported the programme through technical training, industry exposure and connections to South Africa’s formal e-waste value chain.
About the programme
The project addressed two major challenges: youth unemployment and the unsafe disposal of electronic waste.
It trained 22 young people, including women and persons with disabilities, to participate in the circular economy as skilled workers and entrepreneurs. The broader programme also strengthened the capacity of TVET institutions to support future e-waste training.
What participants learned
Participants received classroom, practical and workplace-based training covering:
- Safe e-waste handling and dismantling
- Correct use of tools and personal protective equipment
- Sorting and separating recoverable materials
- Safe storage and workplace housekeeping
- E-waste legislation and compliance
- Business planning, costing and customer development
- Opportunities in collection, repair, refurbishment and recycling
Practical training and recycler site visits helped participants understand how formal e-waste facilities manage materials, safety, traceability and downstream markets.
From training to enterprise
The programme combined technical skills with the ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business training.
Participants explored viable business opportunities, developed business plans and built relationships with recyclers and other stakeholders. An equipped e-waste container workstation was also handed over to support continued local collection and dismantling activities.
The project demonstrates how industry, government, training institutions and development partners can work together to create practical pathways into the green economy.
Building skills for a circular economy
The eWASA Academy is building on this experience to deliver practical training for:
- Young people entering the green economy
- Recycling SMMEs and entrepreneurs
- Waste collectors and frontline workers
- Municipal officials
- Producer and corporate compliance teams