Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I speak with Kenny McGee, CEO of Component Sense, about the shocking reality of where our old electronics end up – and why it's a wake-up call for anyone involved in tech, manufacturing, or sustainability.
Kenny recently travelled to Agbogbloshie in Ghana, long considered the world’s largest e-waste dump. What he found was a complex ecosystem of informal workers dismantling, burning, and salvaging tech waste — often in hazardous conditions — all while fuelling a global second-hand electronics trade.
We discuss:
🔧 How e-waste from the UK and Europe is ending up in Ghana
🔥 The health and environmental risks of informal recycling
💡 The surprising repair skills and resourcefulness of local workers
🌍 What manufacturers and consumers must do to stem the tide of tech waste
📦 The supply chain blind spots we urgently need to address
If you’ve ever wondered what really happens to your old laptop, phone, or TV — or how your supply chain decisions affect people on the other side of the world — this conversation will open your eyes.
👉 Subscribe for more insights on sustainable supply chains, circular economy trends, and responsible sourcing.
📩 Want to connect or sponsor an episode? Reach out to me on LinkedIn or at tomraftery@outlook.com.
🔗 Learn more about Component Sense: componentsense.com
#sustainablesupplychain #ewaste #circulareconomy #electronicsrecycling #ghanaewaste #sustainability
In this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I speak with Kenny McGee, CEO of Component Sense, about the shocking reality of where our old electronics end up – and why it's a wake-up call for anyone involved in tech, manufacturing, or sustainability.
Kenny recently travelled to Agbogbloshie in Ghana, long considered the world’s largest e-waste dump. What he found was a complex ecosystem of informal workers dismantling, burning, and salvaging tech waste — often in hazardous conditions — all while fuelling a global second-hand electronics trade.
We discuss:
🔧 How e-waste from the UK and Europe is ending up in Ghana
🔥 The health and environmental risks of informal recycling
💡 The surprising repair skills and resourcefulness of local workers
🌍 What manufacturers and consumers must do to stem the tide of tech waste
📦 The supply chain blind spots we urgently need to address
If you’ve ever wondered what really happens to your old laptop, phone, or TV — or how your supply chain decisions affect people on the other side of the world — this conversation will open your eyes.
👉 Subscribe for more insights on sustainable supply chains, circular economy trends, and responsible sourcing.
📩 Want to connect or sponsor an episode? Reach out to me on LinkedIn or at tomraftery@outlook.com.
🔗 Learn more about Component Sense: componentsense.com
#sustainablesupplychain #ewaste #circulareconomy #electronicsrecycling #ghanaewaste #sustainability
