Corporate take-back schemes must be a value exchange

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Corporate take-back schemes are gaining ground as a response to Africa's growing waste problem. However, a recent appeal by Kenyan telecommunications giant Safaricom for consumers to surrender unwanted electronics without compensation has raised questions about the commercial interests behind such initiatives and who ultimately benefits from them.

• With large customer bases, established distribution networks and strong brand recognition, corporations have significant advantages in collecting discarded products at scale.

• However, such initiatives risk undermining circularity if they fail or corporate interests take precedence over meaningful resource recovery, equitable value distribution and support for existing recycling businesses. 

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