Nigeria's $15 Million Project Aims to Transform E-Waste Recycling Sector

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Nigerian government announced launch of a new initiative aimed at reforming the e-waste recycling sector in the country by putting the brakes on informal e-waste recycling practices.

As per estimates, the number of people working in Nigeria’s informal electronic waste sector exceeds 100,000. They collect and dismantle discarded electronic devices by hand, thereby exposing themselves to pollutants including heavy metals and toxic chemicals, which in turn could pose serious health threats.

The new $15 million project is being launched by the government in partnership with the Global Environment Facility and UN Environment. The initiative, led by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) aims to bring together various players from public and private sectors as well as members from civil society to initiate a financially-sustainable circular electronics system in the country.

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The project will promote recycling of usable components. At the same time, it will ensure safe disposal of non-usable and toxic waste.

Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment noted that the project would also support E-waste Producers Responsibility Organization (EPRON) - the government initiative to promote sustainable production and consumption of electronics. The initiative will help in the development of a sustainable circular economy for electronic products in Nigeria, Odusote added.