Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast Second Guest Interview
Kenny McGee, CEO and founder, recounted his recent trip to what was once one of the world’s largest electronic waste dumpsites.
In this episode, host of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, Tom Raftery, sat down once again with Kenny McGee, CEO of Component Sense, to delve into one of the most confronting aspects of global supply chains: electronic waste, or e-waste.
Kenny recently returned from Agbogbloshie, Ghana, a site once dubbed the world’s largest e-waste dump. What he found there was far more complex than expected: a vast, informal economy built around salvaging, repairing, and repurposing our discarded electronics.
From TVs and fridges to circuit boards and copper wiring, items we think are being “recycled” are often ending up in the hands of workers—many of them teenagers—who burn, strip, and break devices using bare hands and basic tools.
Kenny and Tom talk through the journey of a used TV from a UK household to the streets of Accra, explore the supply chains that enable illegal exports of e-waste, and reflect on the human and environmental costs tied to our throwaway tech culture. Kenny also shares the hopeful side, including stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and local charity-led education and healthcare initiatives.
Key takeaways:
- Why the second-hand trade is not inherently bad but needs regulation.
- How plastic and clothing waste are compounding the e-waste problem.
- The role manufacturers must play in designing for repair and reuse.
- Why abrupt changes to e-waste flows could hurt the very people we aim to help.
Tom Raftery is a technology professional, podcast host, and keynote speaker with over 25 years of experience in the software industry. Previously, he was a Global VP and Evangelist on SAP’s Thought Leadership and Awareness team, where he led numerous initiatives to shape SAP’s perception among top customers, influence major deals, and deliver engaging content on high-impact topics.