| History, Problems, and Progress in E Waste Recycling In-Country |
The Nigerian law prohibits burning plastic cables, as well as acid leaching and other common methods used by Nigerian pickers to reclaim valuable metals from discarded electronics. But minimal enforcement and a low awareness of the risks they are running means most pickers continue to regularly expose themselves to toxins that cause respiratory and dermatological problems, eye infections, neurodevelopmental issues, and, ultimately, shorter lives.
While international agreements prohibit the import of hazardous waste, unscrupulous importers and a porous customs system mean Nigeria now ranks alongside Ghana as one of the world’s leading destinations for electronic waste. The country receives 71,000 tonnes of used consumer goods through the two main ports in Lagos from the European Union and other more industrialized economies every year. |
| E-Wasters Services and Special Practices In-Country |
Refurbishing of used electronic devices and unlocking mobile devices is a lucrative practice in Ikeja. Where such devices are beyond repair, they are taken apart and used as spare parts for other broken devices. Scraps and non-reusable parts are either discarded in the main waste dumpster, burnt in major trash cans or just left to lie around in the environment. Regardless of the environmental and health hazards faced by the host communities, e-waste recycling and refurbishing practices continues to thrive in Ikeja. |
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