The solar E-waste challenge: A Zambian case study of informal disposal, counterfeit technologies and low literacy

The exponential growth of off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has significantly improved rural electrification but has also introduced new environmental management challenges related to end-of-life disposal. In Zambia, where over one million solar devices were sold between 2018 and 2022, the short lifespan of many solar kits, often under four years, has resulted in a growing and unregulated stream of solar electronic waste (e-waste). More than 90% of these products are technically repairable yet rarely serviced. This study examines the environmental impacts of informal solar e-waste disposal practices in rural Zambia, where obsolete products are typically buried, burned, or repurposed, posing risks to both ecosystem and human health. Using the Rural Development Stakeholder Hybrid Adoption Model (RUDSHAM), the research investigates how counterfeit technologies, low literacy, and informal market dynamics intensify poor waste handling. Fieldwork conducted between October 2022 and May 2025 included 28 interviews and 2 focus group discussions across four rural districts (Mkushi, Kapiri, Chongwe, and Luano-Chingola). The study identifies key drivers of e-waste mismanagement, including inadequate policy frameworks, counterfeit solar imports, poverty, and low consumer awareness. Recommendations include the development of a national e-waste policy, enhanced border controls, formalisation of informal markets, and community-based solar literacy initiatives. The findings contribute empirical insights to environmental governance and waste policy debates in SSA, empasising the need for lifecycle-based solar waste strategies. This work holds practical relevance for environmental managers, policy-makers, and researchers focused on sustainable energy and waste systems in off-grid, low-income contexts.