In continuation of the numerous collaborations between the Swiss SRI Project and UNDP-GEF E-Waste Management Project, the E-Waste Dismantling Training Workshop was jointly co-organized on the 4^th & 5^th of December 2017. International experts from Sofies and an Italian recycler delivered the hands-on training, which was held in Giza at one of the accredited Egyptian recycling facilities.

The training aimed at introducing trainees to e-waste dismantling basics and building their capacities in the field of electronic waste dismantling, sound best practices, health and environmental safety measures while dealing with e-waste at large. This included collection, segregation, dismantling, recycling, treatment, storage, as well as safe disposal. Hands-on dismantling of end-of-life PCs, cellular phones, hard disk drives, CRT screens, LCD screens, and laptops took place during the two-day workshop. The training also consisted of a module delineating the valuable as well as hazardous fractions of each device, whereby, trainees were able to identify the core value of each device by the end of the workshop.

Moreover, an Italian business model for e-waste treatment was showcased illustrating similarities and dissimilarities and external factors that might influence a dismantling facility were discussed. Significant success stories have been presented by leading e-waste management companies.25 participants substantially contributed to the interactive workshop. This included trainees from the Egyptian Ministry of Environment (MoE) as well as the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), who closely deal with electrical and electronic waste management, and whose compliance to environmental and health specifications is of high priority. By acquiring such a hands-on training, they are able to act as auditors or trainers with quite improved performance. Again, they are able to raise awareness on e-waste best practices and the hazards of mistreated dismantled constituents ensuring environmentally sound recycling. Meanwhile, the workshop also targeted entrepreneurs benefiting from the SRI incubation programme.  

It is worth noting that the participants expressed their keenness to attend additional hands-on training workshops and planned visits to recycling facilities abroad where they could observe all phases of e-waste recycling.

The Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) Project in Egypt is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Egyptian Ministry of Communication & Information Technology (MCIT) and the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region & Europe (CEDARE) in partnership with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), the World Resources Forum Association (WRFA), and Sofies. On the other hand, the UNDP-GEF Medical and Electronic Waste Management Project is funded by GEF and implemented by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).