Kenya's mobile telephone company Safaricom on Wednesday launched a comprehensive program to promote recycling of electronic waste responsible for serious environmental and health hazards in the east African country.

The firm's CEO Bob Collymore revealed that the 25,000 U.S. dollar nonprofit initiative will embolden efforts by regulatory agencies to phase out e-waste menace.

"Currently, one million mobile phone handsets that are dysfunctional will worsen the challenge of e-waste. Rapid growth of mobile phone industry to some extent is responsible for e-waste crisis," Collymore told journalists on Wednesday.

He said a report by UNEP in 2009 shows that Kenya is responsible for more than 17,000 tons of e-waste every year, out of which mobile phones contribute in excess of 150 tons.

"As a responsible corporate entity, we have taken this bold step to ensure that our customers are not exposed to the adverse effects associated with the improper disposal of wastes," Collymore said.

The new initiative encourage the general public to deposit old and dysfunctional phones, chargers, batteries, toys, laptops and music players in any of the 36 Safaricom outlets countywide.

Collymore said the nonprofit Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Center (WEEE) will be charged with collecting used gadgets for dismantling and recycling to make plastic chairs and poles.

The mobile telephone industry is concerned about the rising toll of e-waste in Kenya.

He urged stakeholders to scale up eco-friendly alternatives to waste disposal. Safaricom intends to play a leading role in e- waste management in line with guidelines issued by regulatory agencies.

Collymore disclosed that Safaricom will partner with environmental watchdogs to raise awareness and encourage the public to promote e-waste management.

Partnerships between the public and private sector are crucial to accelerate implementation of e-waste management programs.

The Director General, Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), Francis Wangusi, told Xinhua that the latest crackdown on counterfeit phones has boosted efforts to reduce e-waste menace in Kenya.

"CCK is dealing with e-waste through various initiatives to cushion Kenyan public from environmental and health risks," said Wangusi Government agencies have endorsed the new partnership with Safaricom to raise the bar in e-waste management in Kenya.

The Director of Environmental Education, Information and Public Communication, National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), Ayub Macharia, said that e-waste is an emerging environmental challenge in Kenya.

"Over the years, used and old phones, computers, fridges and television sets have worsened the e-waste menace in the country. Appropriate collection and recycling mechanism on e-waste is critical," said Macharia

He said inadequate infrastructure, expertise and financial resources hamper efforts to scale up e-waste recycling in Kenya.

The National Environment Management Agency has approved two facilities to handle e-waste. Macharia stressed that a policy and legislative framework is required to support e-waste management at all levels.

"The Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NEMA and industry have developed guidelines on e-waste collection, sorting and disposal," Macharia said.

He said the government support innovative programs on waste management at the grassroots level. The role of the informal sector is critical to expand e-waste recycling and create employment opportunities for the youth. The government will support innovative programs rolled out by small scale entrepreneurs to recycle e-waste, said Macharia.

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