Nigeria Declares New Action Plan to Tackle Growing E-Waste Menace

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Nigeria is on a mission to raise awareness about the need to properly dispose and handle end-of-life electronics. The government, in partnership with e-waste management companies, has announced fresh initiative to step up awareness campaigns to help the country tackle the growing menace of electronic waste. Estimates suggest that Nigeria generates approximately 1.1 million tonnes of electronic waste every year.

Lagos-based E-Terra Technologies has decided to hold a waste recycling exposition, the first of its kind in Nigeria, on 24 May, 2018 in Lagos. The exposition will recognize the efforts of government agencies, partners and clients to support the company’s efforts to address the health issues resulting from improper management of e-waste. The event will also showcase the state-of-the-art machines used to manage toxic e-waste. Ifeanyi Ochomnogor, Managing Director and CEO, E-Terra Technologies claimed that Nigeria possess best data destruction machinery. He called for putting these machines into proper use.

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Further, E-Terra Technologies announced that it will conduct monthly community engagement campaigns to raise awareness about the ill-effects caused by improper e-waste handling. The campaigns would highlight the health risks posed by toxic chemicals contained in disposed electronic items, if they are handled in an irresponsible manner, thereby resulting in serious environment pollution. As informal waste handlers continue to account for bulk of e-waste collection and disposal, due importance will be given to impart necessary safe practices training and education to e-waste handlers in the informal sector.

Nigeria had recently announced commencement of operations at its first e-waste recycling plant in Ojota, Lagos. The facility had decided to accommodate informal sector by providing necessary training to scavengers who generally make use of primitive techniques to handle e-waste.