Mobisol, a leading provider of decentralized solar solutions, has joined hands with e-waste and battery recyclers in all operational countries. By partnering with Phenix Recycling in Tanzania, Enviroserve in Rwanda, and Associated Battery Manufacturers (ABM) in Kenya, Mobisol has established ties with experts in their field.
All three recycling partners have demonstrated a strong commitment to establishing a comprehensive recycling network for off-grid solar components, such as waste from solar products, consumer electronics and lead-based batteries.
This milestone comes at a time where the off-grid solar industry increasingly acknowledges the importance of finding end-of-life solutions for its products. In order to steer this urgent issue with clarity and transparency, Mobisol positions itself as one of the first market players to openly communicate its recycling infrastructure.
E-waste recycling was one of the emerging topics of discussion at the Off-Grid Solar Forum in Hong Kong last month. At the event, attended by over 600 sector representatives, the importance of collaboration and exchange in order to improve existing methods for safe disposal of e-waste and batteries was strongly emphasized.
Facing the immense challenge of the informal recycling sector that uses practices which do not meet acceptable, sustainable standards, Mobisol is convinced that recyclers and off-grid companies need to work together to focus on social and environmental standards and create awareness for sound waste management in countries they work in.
After having recently announced its partnership with the Tanzania-based recycling company Phenix Ltd., Mobisol has now additionally established ties with ABM, a long-standing lead battery recycling business from Kenya.
Guy Jack, Managing Director of ABM, says: “ABM is very content to have found an ambitious, environmentally-conscious partner in Mobisol. The decentralized solar industry is one that will face further challenges with regards to recycling in the future; experienced, long-standing recyclers like ABM have the responsibility to provide clear and transparent end-of-life solutions to those who are willing to tackle the challenge of informal and inappropriate practices sustainably.”
On December 7 of last year, the Government of Rwanda officially inaugurated its first e-waste recycling facility in Kigali. The event was attended by several public representatives, demonstrating the national will to create an infrastructure for responsible recycling. Building on a long-standing partnership with the Government of Rwanda since 2014, Mobisol is proud to be able to establish ties with Enviroserve, a Dubai-based international recycling expert taking over the operation of the Kigali facility since January this year.
Stuart Fleming, Group CEO of Enviroserve, says: “Having recently entered the Rwandan market by signing a public private partnership with the Government for the operation of the new, state-of-the-art e-waste recycling facility, Enviroserve proudly takes on partners like Mobisol that are willing to jointly create awareness among the population for the growing waste problem around solar products and consumer electronics. We are looking forward to becoming a recycling hub in East Africa in the future.”
