Nigeria Could Earn Millions in Foreign Exchange from E-Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The recent meeting organized by the E-Waste Collectors Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in partnership with Hinckey Group warned that Nigeria is losing millions of dollars in foreign exchange due to lack of proper disposal, collection and recycling system in the country. The view was expressed by sector experts and Lagos government officials who participated in the event.

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The meeting highlighted the urgent need for transformation of Nigeria’s e-waste recycling sector. It urged to curb activities by informal e-waste collectors by educating them on the dangers of handling toxic e-waste using traditional techniques. The lack of responsible recycling poses threat to the environment and the population of the country, the meeting noted.

Andrian Clews, Managing Director, Hinckley Group said that almost 99% of the e-waste in Nigeria is handled by informal sector. Apart from domestic e-waste, the country processes tonnes of used consumer goods from other countries, especially from developed countries. Lack of safe recycling network in the country results in loss of millions of dollars every year, Clews said.

Meantime, senior officials from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) noted that the regulatory body has already initiated necessary measures to ensure that over 10,000 informal recyclers collect and process e-waste in the most responsible and environment-friendly manner.