Desco

No. The hard fact is that the fines are imposed to stop people from destroying the environment knowingly. “If you don’t want the fine then don’t do the crime”.

Desco offers Secure Destruction for data storage media (hard drives, backup tapes, zip discs, optical media, flash cards, etc) which can be witnessed during the destruction process. A Secure Destruction certificate is provided as proof.

Desco has placed bins at various shops and schools. To find the nearest drop-off point to your location, click here.

Electronic Waste or otherwise known as Computer Scrap or Electronic Junk. There are many variations but all point to the same.

E-Waste is anything that works from a power source: ie. direct Eskom power, batteries, solar, dynamo.

The Basel Convention is a global treaty ratified by almost every country of the world (170 countries or “Parties”) but not by the United States. This Convention seeks to minimize and strictly control the trade in hazardous waste between countries, with a particular goal to protect developing countries. The U.S. is the only developed country NOT to have ratified the Basel Convention.

Exporting countries covered by Basel are required to get written permission from importing and transit countries before shipping their hazardous wastes, through a very specific “prior informed consent” process. Also, parties to the Convention are prohibited from trading in hazardous waste with countries which are not parties to the Convention.

The following metals are extracted through a process involving shredding, heat and chemical extraction: Copper, Zinc, Aluminium and ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Any company or person who:

1. Generates waste
2. Stores waste
3. Reuses, Recycles and Recovers waste
4. Treats waste
5. Disposes of waste
6. Stores, treats and processes animal waste
7. Constructs, expands or decommissions facilities and associated structures and infrastructure

Items of this nature require specialized handling and destruction (usually extreme heat) for which we are not certified to do.

Refer to the National Environmental Management Act 1998 and National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008. Failure to comply with the Waste Act could result in a R10 Million fine, jail time or both.

All E-Waste contains hazardous materials (lead, pvc “hydrocholric acid”, barium, flame retardents, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, selenium) that leach into the ground water when exposed to the elements. Consumption of this water, even after filtration can cause health problems such as damage to: brain, kidneys, nervous system, lungs, muscles, heart, liver, spleen, reproductive organs, as well as hair loss and brittle nails.

Desco does free collections for items weighing over 1 ton or 1 square metre. Anything under will be charged at R450 ex VAT per collection within Gauteng.