FG gears up to curb unwholesome e-waste disposal, recycling
Lagos, Dec. 2, 2022 (NAN) Federal Government on Friday said that, adequate regulation on e-waste disposal and proper recycling mechanism was essential to protect the nation’s environment.
The Director-General, Nigeria Environmental Standards Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Prof. Aliu Jauro, said that the measure became necessary because of the increased volume of e-waste generation in the country.
Jauro spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the need for both importers and consumers of e-waste to be responsible to the use, reuse and disposal of e-waste materials.
NAN reports that e-waste items such as used computers, electronic devices, solar panels, ATM machines and others were being unprofessionally recycled by people that do not know the dangers their recycling activities posed to the environment.
The DG said that the agency has been meeting with various stakeholders in the sector to inform them of the dangers such used equipment has on the ecosystem if left unmanaged.
According to him the organisation has been in consultative meeting with the banking industry, the telecom sector and others to deliberate on key issues for our collective response to a common threat to the sustainable development of our environment.
“Globalisation and technology has facilitated the continuous generation of large volumes of unwanted electronic, electrical equipment (EEE) and waste emanating from used batteries (lead acid and lithium).
“Statistics have it that 57.4 Mt (Million Metric Tonnes) of e-waste is generated in 2021 worldwide with the total volume growing by an average of 2 Mt per annum.
“ Approximately 110,000 tons of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs) are generated in Nigeria annually from the automotive and renewable energy sectors with only 13 per cent of this amount recycled,’’ Jauro said.
He said that pragmatically, the banking sector being one of the largest Information Technology (IT) inclined, and one of the highest users of Electrical Electronics (EE) and other Electrical Equipment such as batteries for ATM machines is without exception to access newer versions of software and latest electronics devices.
“As consumption increases, so also does the risk associated with these appliances if inappropriately handled at their end-of-life (e-waste) due to the hazardous contents which pose serious challenges to human health and the environment.
“Therefore the call for environment-friendly disposal options such as special collection and handling considerations,’’ he said.
The DG said that as a strategy to ensure environmental best practices towards sustainable development in Nigeria, the Federal Government established the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
NESRA is the enforcement arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
“ NESREA has the powers among others, to prohibit the use of equipment processes that undermine environmental quality.
“All existing facilities are mandated to conduct Environmental Audit (EA) every three years. This process is concluded with EA certification with recommendations for implementation.
“The Regulations also require “all Producers including Importers to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste” and facilities to ensure “disposal of its spent or waste batteries in accordance to guidelines issued by the Agency”. He said.
Jauro said that the agency applauded some of the banks for complying with the environmental requirements.
He said that sanctions would be meted to those that did not comply with rules (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)