The need for used electronics in Nigeria is causing wealthy nations to send their electronic waste to Nigeria. Since much of this e-waste cannot be managed by the formal Waste Management system, it is handled by the informal sector, frequently in dangerous ways. The unprotected sorting of e-waste by informal workers at landfills such as Olusosun in Lagos exposes people to lead, mercury, and cadmium, among other harmful compounds that contaminate the air, water, and soil. Given the high risk of cancer, respiratory disorders, and other serious illnesses, these workers face considerable health hazards.
Due in large part to their low cost, particularly in light of Nigeria’s high rate of poverty, old electronics are flooding the country. But a lot of these imported devices break down rapidly and add to the growing amount of e-waste. E-waste production in Lagos alone is substantial, with unofficial recyclers taking valuable components like gold and copper out of abandoned electronics. Over 100,000 people are employed in this industry, yet the hazardous practices connected to informal Recycling have serious negative health effects, especially for children.
Inhaling harmful compounds from e-waste causes respiratory ailments.
International accords such as the Basel Convention have been ratified by Nigeria; nevertheless, implementation is still lacking. A limited percentage of the nation’s electronic waste is adequately recycled due to a combination of factors including corruption, a lack of staff, and inadequate infrastructure. Competitive pressure from unofficial recyclers, who provide higher prices for scrap, makes official attempts to control the industry more difficult. Although efforts are underway to formalise the e-waste sector, considerable regulatory obstacles continue to impede progress. Long-term exposure to electronic waste has been associated with a number of serious health consequences, particularly in unofficial recycling communities where safety regulations are generally disregarded.
According to research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), breathing in harmful compounds such as lead, cadmium, mercury and brominated flame retardants when handling electronic waste can result in respiratory ailments, compromised immune systems, birth defects, and neurological damage. Improvements in Technology provide hope for e-waste recycling that is safer and more effective. European nations like as Switzerland have led the way in the development of sophisticated recycling systems incorporating robotics, automated sorting technologies, and safe extraction of valuable metals from electronic waste.
Organisations are using innovation, campaigning to address the issue.
To reduce the hazards of recycling e-waste to the environment and human health, technological innovations are being investigated. Examples of these are hydrometallurgy, which uses water-based solutions to recover metal, and cryogenic processing, which freezes this waste to allow for safer component separation. More and more people and organisations are using innovation, campaigning, and regulatory changes to address the the waste challenge. The government, local companies, and foreign partners work together with the E-waste Producer Responsibility Organisation Nigeria (EPRON) in Nigeria to execute take-back initiatives and guarantee secure disposal.
In order to better identify shipments of illicit electronic waste, they are educating customs officers in Nigeria. While some private recyclers, such as Abdullahi Soja, have formalised their scrap operations and provided workers with some safety gear and rudimentary training, efforts are still restricted because of financial limitations and insufficient government enforcement. Through assisting with recycling initiatives and providing training for informal labourers, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are also contributing to Nigeria’s development of sustainable electronic waste management techniques. Because it provides a significant source of income for thousands of families in Nigeria, the role played by informal labourers in the recycling of e-waste is crucial.
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Additionally, informal recyclers make a living by taking useful components out of old devices. Workers like Yusuf disassemble hundreds of electronics every day in the Ojota dump and Alaba International Market, earning between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 ($25 to $50) per day. The fact that these workers are financially dependent on the waste industry must be considered in any future reforms. To balance economic demands with environmental and health concerns, solutions including incorporating informal recyclers into a formalised system, giving them safer tools, and building suitable recycling facilities are crucial. Government incentives may also be used in this situation to encourage recyclers to switch to safer procedures while still making a profit.