SOUTH AFRICA: Cartoon Network raises awareness of e-waste management during holidays

The African branch of the Cartoon Network television channel, which specialises in broadcasting animated series for children, has teamed up with the South African Electronic Waste Recycling Authority (ERA) to raise awareness among young children of the sustainable management of electronic waste during the holiday period.

Cartoon Network is one of the most popular television channels for children, particularly in Africa. It broadcasts animated series and offers online games, videos and competitions with all the children’s favourite characters. The American media company wants to use its reputation to help protect the environment in South Africa, particularly through its Cartoon Network Africa branch.

Cartoon Network Africa recently teamed up with the South African Electronic Waste Recycling Authority (ERA) for its Climate Champions initiative, which aims to raise awareness of electronic waste among youngsters.

“Understanding what happens to waste is a good thing to learn from childhood. Technology is a big part of children’s lives these days and it’s vital that they understand the importance of e-waste recycling from an early age,” says Ashley du Plooy, CEO of ERA, which is working to improve e-waste recycling in South Africa by facilitating and implementing regulations on the proper disposal and management of e-waste.

Raising awareness through characters and stories

The collaboration between Cartoon Network Africa and the ERA during the holiday season is not insignificant. This is a time of year when children are allowed by their parents to spend more time in front of the television and handling their electronic gadgets. With this in mind, Cartoon Network plans to use its characters and stories to raise children’s awareness of the sustainable management of electronic waste, the problems that arise if it is mismanaged, and recycling, which gives materials a second life in order to reduce the consumption of natural resources.

After a survey, it was found that 70% of children aged between 6 and 11 in South Africa had never heard of e-waste or did not know what it meant,” says Cartoon Network Africa. This is a worrying situation, given the risks posed by this waste, which can contain mercury and other toxic substances for humans and the environment.