Pretoria, South Africa, 25 - 26 November 2025 - Governments from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), together with regional and international partners, met in Pretoria to strengthen legal and regulatory approaches to the environmentally sound management of electronic waste (e-waste), one of the world's fastest-growing waste streams.

As the use of electrical and electronic equipment continues to increase, so too does the volume of discarded products. In addition to domestically generated e-waste, Southern Africa also receives imports of used and end-of-life electronic equipment from other regions, creating mounting environmental and public health challenges. Without effective legal and regulatory frameworks, e-waste can release hazardous substances that threaten ecosystems and human health, while valuable materials contained in discarded electronics remain unrecovered.

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, SADC Member States have been taking steps to develop and strengthen national legal and regulatory frameworks governing different stages of the e-waste lifecycle. These efforts include legislation addressing circular economy approaches, environmentally sound management of e-waste, and the management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and chemicals. However, many countries continue to face common challenges in the development, implementation and enforcement of e-waste legislation.

To support these efforts, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through the Fifth Montevideo Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Environmental Law Programme), convened the Regional Workshop on Good Legislative and Regulatory Practices for the Environmentally Sound Management of E-Waste in SADC Countries in Pretoria on 25 and 26 November 2025.

The workshop brought together government representatives, legal experts and development partners to exchange experiences, identify common legal and institutional challenges, and explore opportunities for strengthening national and regional approaches to sustainable e-waste management.

The workshop pursued four key objectives:

• Facilitate regional dialogue and identify common challenges, gaps and opportunities relating to legal frameworks for the sustainable management of e-waste in SADC.
• Encourage the exchange of good legislative and regulatory practices for sustainable e-waste management at the national level.
• Highlight examples of key legislative provisions and regulatory measures that support environmentally sound management of e-waste.
• Promote awareness of existing guidance and practical tools, including UNEP's East African Model E-Waste Law, while identifying capacity-building needs across the region.

Participants discussed a range of legal and policy issues affecting the e-waste value chain, including extended producer responsibility, collection and recycling systems, licensing and compliance mechanisms, transboundary movement of e-waste, institutional coordination, and measures to support circular economy objectives. The workshop also provided an opportunity for countries at different stages of legislative development to share lessons learned and practical experiences.

The event formed part of the broader Montevideo Environmental Law Programme project, "Promoting and Enhancing Capacity of African and Asian Countries to Develop and Implement E-Waste Regulatory Frameworks." The project supports countries in strengthening environmental legislation through regional cooperation, capacity-building and the development of practical guidance for policymakers and legislators.

By fostering collaboration and the exchange of legislative good practices, the workshop reinforced the role of environmental law in addressing one of the region's most pressing waste management challenges. Stronger legal and regulatory frameworks will be essential to promote resource efficiency, advance circular economy approaches, protect human health and the environment, and ensure the environmentally sound management of e-waste across the SADC region.