ABSTRACT
Technological proliferation and consumption have recently unfolded in myriad forms. The consequences have relatively strained state institutions’ policy capacity and changed the state’s art of regulation. The latter has transcended the traditional boundaries besides redefining its role to include other jurisdictions in regulating society. This chapter delves into the state of regulation in environmental protection using electronic-waste (e-waste) management as a case of analysis. We take stock of practical implementation challenges that have come with the exponential surge in the import and consumption of electronic equipment in selected African countries in recent decades. We note that despite recent regional and national drafting of policy frameworks and the creation of concerned agencies, e-waste regulation still suffers from local institutional deficits and faulty international policy frameworks. There is also a lack of policy coherence, policy commitment problems, poor internalisation of national e-waste policies and inadequate investments.
