Technology & Innovation
EWaste Africa
Engineering a Sustainable Future
At EWaste Africa, innovation is not just a buzzword; it is the operational engine that drives our approach toward zero waste to landfill. We believe that solving complex environmental challenges requires a hybrid strategy. We combine the precision of world-class international engineering with the agility of home-grown research and development to continually reduce the volume of waste that ends up in landfills.
Our technological approach has been validated by some of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Being named a Nominee for The Earthshot Prize (2025) and a Winner of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (2023) confirms that our specific blend of engineering and innovation is capable of solving global environmental challenges.
Global Partnerships: The Balcan Advantage
We believe that Africa deserves the highest standard of recycling technology.
To achieve this, we secured the exclusive technology and distribution rights for Balcan Engineering. Based in the United Kingdom and winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, Balcan is a global leader in lamp recycling systems. By deploying their state-of-the-art machinery, we ensure that:
Mercury is safely captured and isolated, preventing environmental contamination.
Separation efficiency is maximised, allowing for higher recovery rates of glass, metals, and phosphors.
Advanced Processing Capabilities
Our facilities are equipped with specialised machinery tailored to complex waste streams, prioritising refurbishment and material recovery.
Lighting Recycling: We utilise advanced dry-crushing technology with negative pressure systems. This safely extracts and contains hazardous mercury vapour while cleanly separating glass and metal for reuse.
PV Module Processing: We employ specialised mechanical separation to recover metals from the modules. The shredded laminate is used in the manufacture of GreenTagTM accredited interlocking eco-pavers.
Battery Treatment: Our process prioritises safety through testing and discharging. Once neutralised, we use mechanical separation technologies to separate the cells into steel, plastic, and black mass (which contains critical minerals) for downstream refining.
Data Sanitisation: We utilise world-class, certified sanitisation software to permanently erase data on all IT assets that we receive. This generates a verifiable audit trail, ensuring absolute security for your sensitive information before the hardware is recycled.
Local R&D: The LPX™ Plant
We do not just import technology; we create it.
Developed in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the LPX™ Plant was engineered to provide a solution for a specific and problematic waste fraction: phosphor powder.
This powder is a by-product of recycling fluorescent lighting. While it contains the mercury captured from the lamps, it also contains significant amounts of rare-earth metals (such as yttrium and europium), which are critical for achieving the desired “colour” of the light.
Our plant utilises a world-first hydrometallurgical extraction process to separate these elements. This technology allows us to:
Recover rare-earth metals as oxides for reuse in industry.
Convert the recovered mercury into cinnabar, a stable form that is significantly less volatile and less soluble than elemental mercury.
When fully operational, this technology will enable the total beneficiation of lighting waste, ensuring that even the most complex residues are turned into resources.
Closing the Loop
Product Manufacturing
GreenTagTM Certified Interlocking Eco-Pavers
We turn hazardous waste challenges into sustainable construction solutions. By recovering high-quality glass from waste solar panels and lamps and using them in the manufacture durable interlocking eco-pavers, we are ensuring that we give as many different by-products a second life.
These pavers are GreenTagTM GreenRate Bronze Level B certified, ensuring they meet rigorous environmental standards. They provide a tangible way for the construction industry to reduce its carbon footprint while diverting waste from landfills.
Refurbishment & Remanufacturing
Recycling is the last resort; reusing is the priority. We operate specialised refurbishment lines designed to extend the lifespan of valuable technology, keeping it in the economy for longer.
IT Assets: We professionally refurbish PCs and laptops, performing data sanitisation to create high-quality “second life” units.
PV Modules: We test and repair solar panels that still have viable output, reselling them as affordable renewable energy solutions.
Battery Remanufacturing: We have developed the capability to remanufacture battery packs to ensure maximum use from each cell.