E-Waste Management Framework: Addressing the E-Waste Conundrum in Nigeria
*John Atseye, **Daramfon Bassey and ***Ifeoma Malo
Over the years, the global market for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) continues to grow exponentially, while the lifespan of those products becomes shorter and shorter. Therefore, businesses as well as waste management officials are facing a new challenge, and E-Waste or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are receiving a considerable amount of attention from policy makers. Predictably, the number of electrical devices will continue to increase on the global scale.
In most Nigerian cities, there are visible mounds of refuse that have piled up on roads, river banks and swampy land. Many of these rubbish piles include e-waste products and these waste dumps are breeding grounds for germs and cause diseases and horrible smells. Despite the risks associated with these e-waste dump sites, many people still scavenge within these sites and make their living off the piles of harmful waste littered all across Nigeria. According to the International Labour Organisation, up to 100,000 people work in the informal e-waste recycling sector in Nigeria. They collect and dismantle electronics by hand to reclaim components that can then be resold.
These people are at risk of infection and physical injury from handling waste. They are in danger of direct chemical poisoning leading to organ dysfunction, or disorders that are an indirect result of exposure to hazardous chemicals. E-waste can also induce genetic damage that could affect future generations.
Perhaps less well-known is the electronic waste that’s becoming a serious problem in parts of the country. This is obsolete electrical and electronic equipment that has been discarded or forgotten in not so visible places. Because Nigeria does not have a formal recycling sector for safe management of e-waste, every month about 500,000 tons of electronic and electrical equipment is dumped in workshops, open spaces, water sources and landfills. More than half of this is near end of life or completely damaged.
When rain falls on informal waste dumps or these waste stay in poorly ventilated storage or junk piles for long, they disintegrate and polluted liquids leak out. These liquids contain toxic chemicals and metals, bacteria and viruses. They find their ways into the ground and surface water, and can be taken up by plants and end up in animals and people.
Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing types of waste in some parts of the world. Globally, the eco-friendly recycling of e-waste is optimally low. So more than half of almost 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated worldwide ends up in landfills or is illegally transported.
Some of Nigeria’s E-Waste is equipment that was imported when new and is discarded after its useful life. Some are imported second-hand. Out of an average of 500,000 tonnes of used electrical and electronics equipment imported into Nigeria, more than 25% is dead on arrival.
While the EU currently has the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) which sets the criteria for the collection, treatment and recovery of WEEE, most African countries do not have an overarching framework for e-waste management. Only 10 countries (Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Zambia) have specific e-waste legislation that is legally binding (act, law, statutory instrument etc.); in addition, Tanzania has policies relating to E-Waste that are not legally binding (i.e. strategies, policies, guidelines etc.). While still in its early stages, more African countries are starting to look at “take back” legislation based on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle, thereby legally requiring manufacturers and importers to finance the take back and proper recycling of products placed on the national markets. Currently three countries (Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, with some other countries like South Africa revising their systems) in Africa have an EPR scheme in place.
There is an urgent need for greater awareness around the growing danger of these substances found in the environment. The attitude of Nigerians towards waste disposal should change. Waste should be managed sustainably by reducing, reusing, recovering and recycling materials safely both as part of a health and environmental consciousness but also as a way to build a new circular economy around repurposing some of these waste in a timely and efficient manner.
Thus, this is why the work carried out by Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility (ACE) (TAF) in collaboration with SoFIES international and Clean Technology Hub in supporting the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and NESREA by developing a Guidance on E-Waste for Stand-Alone Solar in Nigeria is important. The guide will provide clarification and guidance to the Government of Nigeria (GoN) and the private sector on managing SAS e-waste in line with the country’s national E-Waste regulatory framework. This guide will further serve as a standard e-waste document for the Nigerian SAS sector.
The developed Stand-Alone Solar E-waste report makes the case for — all SAS product components being clearly recognised in the E-Waste Regulation (through an amendment to the existing bill). This is different from batteries, which should be specified in the used battery management legislation. Furthermore there are currently ongoing efforts to institute the end-of-life Management of SAS and off-grid solar waste needs through a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) through a recently launched alliance known as the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recyclers (ARBR) which producers should be required to join.
*John Atseye is the Senior Associate, Energy Access in Clean Technology Hub
**Daramfon Bassey is the Manager, Cross-Cutting Practices Group
***Ifeoma Malo is the Co-Founder/CEO, Clean Technology Hub
