PUBLICATIONS

Emmanuel Nyaletey, Founder and CEO of BridgeSolar LLC, will join an expert panel at the E-Waste World Expo in Frankfurt, Germany, for a session titled "Developing Sustainable E-Waste Solutions: Practical Opportunities in Africa."

The discussion explores the rapidly evolving landscape of electronics management across the African continent, with a focus on moving up the waste hierarchy — shifting emphasis from disposal toward reuse, repair, and refurbishment as the preferred outcomes for end-of-life electronics.

As both a practitioner and a vocal advocate for Africa’s voice in global recycling policy, Emmanuel brings firsthand insight into the grassroots and entrepreneurial ecosystems driving change on the ground. The session will spotlight the innovative business models emerging across Africa that are transforming what was once viewed as a waste challenge into a driver of economic opportunity, job creation, and environmental progress.

This appearance reflects BridgeSolar’s ongoing commitment to shaping global conversations around the circular economy — ensuring that the realities and aspirations of African communities remain central to international dialogue on sustainable electronics management.

Emmanuel Nyaletey, Founder and CEO of BridgeSolar, took the stage at the 2024 E-Scrap Conference in Orlando, Florida, joining a panel focused on navigating the sweeping changes introduced by the Basel Convention to the global electronics recycling trade.

Speaking candidly about the real-world consequences of international environmental policy, Emmanuel made clear that the effects of these regulatory shifts reach far beyond the borders of the nations drafting them. "It's not just the U.S. that is directly hurt," he said, drawing attention to the outsized impact that new rules have on communities in the Global South — particularly in Africa.

"We do not have these conversations in our region as citizens in our countries," he told the audience. "We will depend on you guys — everyone in this room — to be the advocates for reuse and trade in Africa."

Emmanuel highlighted a structural imbalance in how international legislation is developed: major regulatory frameworks originate in the United States, the United Kingdom, or the European Union, while African nations are rarely given a meaningful seat at the table. The result, he argued, is policy that is blind to the needs and realities of over a billion people across the continent.

"Think about Africans and how these rules, these changes will affect us," he urged. "There are over a billion of us now — so if we are not counted when we are implementing or drafting these rules, they are going to cause a huge mess on our continent."

His remarks served as a powerful call to action for the recycling and reuse industry to champion inclusive, globally representative policymaking — and to recognize that access to affordable, refurbished electronics is not a fringe concern, but a matter of economic opportunity, environmental justice, and human dignity.

Emmanuel Nyaletey, WR3A Board Member and Founder & CEO of BridgeSolar from Ghana, was invited to represent Africa's technology sector before European recycling officials at the International Electronics Recycling Congress (IERC) 2018.

He presented on the history of electricity funding and demand growth since Ghana's independence, highlighting the driving forces behind the continent's growing energy needs. Central to his argument was the critical role that affordable second-hand electronics play in creating the economic conditions that attract investment in electrical and electronic infrastructure across Ghana and the wider region.

He made a compelling case that the circular economy of electronics significantly expands access for millions of Africans who cannot afford brand-new devices such as a $2,000 MacBook Pro or the latest iPhone or Samsung smartphone. In his view, access to quality second-hand equipment not only improves livelihoods and combats poverty — it also advances environmental goals by extending the useful lifespan of devices that would otherwise be discarded.

Robin Ingenthron, founder of WR3A, praised the presentation: "Democracy in action. Really excellent presentation by Emmanuel. Lots of nodding audience members. Good rebuttals by Emmanuel to tough questions. Made the OEM who asked about junk answer for the percentage at Agbogbloshie from brand-new imports."