Responsible Recycling Aspects

Environmentally Responsible

• Maximizes Re-use and Reclamation
• Environmentally "Benign" Processing Practices

Transparency/Traceability

• Ensures Data Security/Destruction
• Legally Compliant (i.e. WEEE, Basel Bamako, other country-specific)

 

Economically Responsible

• Market Based & Contributes to Local Economies

Socially Responsible

• Utilizes Both Formal and/or Informal Labor Sectors
• ›Demonstrates Fair Labor Practices (i.e. Safety, Wage) In Both Sectors
• Aligns with Camara's Environmental Policy and Ethos

CDRN Citizen Engagement: Project Overview

The Community Development Resource Network (CDRN) is a local, independent nongovernmental organization operating in Uganda. It was founded in 1994 to support community development through participatory techniques and to assist organizations involved in such work to be more effective in meeting their mandates. CDRN also recognizes the importance of influencing policies and decisions in the environment within which Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operate.

Over the past several years, Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become increasingly relevant to citizen engagement. This relevance applies to both the developed and developing worlds. Applications like “Open for Questions” in the United States and “Governador Pergunta” in Brazil give citizens a greater say in government decisions. The result is increased transparency, and a community culture where citizens advocate for services they need, and governments deliver those services more effectively.

While ICT promises increased engagement, it can be difficult to sustain participation over time.

This  project will analyze the critical factors required for sustained ICT-facilitated citizen engagement, and build a supporting strategy that helps CDRN effectively integrate technology into their consulting processes.

Camara e-waste: Project Overview

Camara is an International organization that uses technology to break the cycle of poverty by improving education and livelihood skills in disadvantaged communities around the world. Camara provides a sustainable and scalable model of ‘education delivery’ that has, thus far, helped more than 500,000 children in poor communities to become digitally literate. The organization’s goal is to expand this system to more than 1.25 million children around the world.

Camara provides a complete “educational package” to schools in Ireland, Jamaica, and several African countries. The package includes computing hardware (3-5 year old donated equipment that is refurbished in Ireland), educational software, teacher training, technical support, and end-of-life hardware disposal.

As Camara has grown, so has their risk of being able to responsibly dispose of their electronic waste (e-waste). Each country Camara operates within has different e-waste processing capacities and governing regulations. Some have appropriate governance and a mature electronics recycling capability. Others lack the infrastructure for a sustainable solution.

Because of this variability, Camara currently cannot definitively state that it ensures responsible end-of-life hardware disposal for its entire operation. As a temporary solution, the organization stockpiles obsolete equipment where no responsible processing options exist.

This project will define a sustainable and scalable disposal strategy for Camara’s e-waste.