Pilot project that will serve as template for proper E-wastes management in Africa, led to recycling of 300 tones of E-wastes in Lagos
Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in the collection, management and recycling of E-Wastes following the successful completion of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sponsored project in Lagos , which will serve as template for the development of the E -wastes economy in the whole of Africa.
Speaking in Lagos at the official closing meeting of the GEF project on “Circular economy approaches for the electronics sector in Nigeria”, the Minister of Environment, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi congratulated all the stakeholders involved in the value chain for job well done, while promising that the country will do everything possible to ensure that the project is not only replicated nationwide, but also put in place a system for it’s sustainability.
In a keynote address, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, said the successful completion of the pilot project for E-Wastes management in Lagos for the record time of 4 years was a great achievement by the government.
He said this showed that with the right expertise, supervision and accountability, government can achieve a lot in making life more meaningful for the masses.
The Minister who was represented by the director of Research in the Ministry, Mallam Stanley Jonah explained that through the project, a total of 300 tones of E- wastes were recycled in Lagos, relevant laws formulated for sustainability of the project in the country, and the major stakeholders empowered through training, as he thanked Lagos state government for providing the right environment for it’s successful execution.
“In a quest to address these issues, the Nigerian government through the instrumentality of the NESREA with the support of the GEF came up with this project with the aim of recycling 300 tons of waste from the Electrical and Electronic Sector to tackle the growing challenge of e-waste in Lagos State, Nigeria.
“Under this Project the following successes were recorded:
i. Engagement of two recyclers in Lagos who recycled 300 tons of e-waste
ii. Selection of thirty collectors through competitive bidding that helped in the collections;
iii. Formalization of the informal scavengers;
iv. Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
v. Amendment of the National Environmental (Electrical and Electronic Sector) Regulations, 2022;
vi. Development of a Data Base; and
“vii. Strengthening of the Extended Producers Responsibility Organization (EPRON).
” Distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen it is my pleasure to inform you that, the project has been successfully implemented by recycling 300 tons of e-waste in Lagos State and its environs.
” As we bring this GEF Funded Project to an end, I would like to sincerely employ the stakeholders involved in the value-chain to sustain the EPR programme by complying with their obligations under the amended Regulation and their duties in the EPRON operations. It is also expected that the project will be replicated in other parts of Country.
I wish to sincerely thank His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State and the good people of Lagos State for their support for the actualisation of the project and the warm reception accorded to me and my team”, he said.
“It gives me great pleasure to be part of this all important gathering for the closing event of the UNEP/GEF Funded EPR Project for the Electrical and Electronic Sector Line Circular Economy taking place today in Lagos State, the center of excellence. This Project known as the Global Environment Facility is championed by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), which is the enforcement arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment, established in 2007 and has as part of her mandate the power to enforce compliance with all environmental laws, standards, regulations, policies and multi-lateral environmental agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory. And also has the power to prohibit the use of equipment or technology that undermines environmental quality.
” First and foremost, I wish to express my profound appreciation to the United Nation Environment Programme for the technical and financial support, and the Lagos State Government for providing the enabling environment to successfully implement this project.
” E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste stream globally and almost most of the developing Nations have been turned to a dumping ground with the influx of both new and used electrical and electronics. E-waste management for most developing countries including Nigeria, is primarily handled by the informal sector, who scavenge for valuable material using crude methods. They retrieve the economically viable components through dismantling and dispose off the part that is not valuable to them either at open dumpsite or by burning or burying with municipal waste. Beside adding harmful element components to the environment, indiscriminate disposal of waste is a lost opportunity for recycling. Most solid waste contains some form of recycling materials, including plastics, glass, precious materials and metal. This call for concern on the resources efficiency and the attendant problems it poses to human health and the environment.
“Almost all the National regulations developed by NESREA on the brown environment have provisions that addresses the issues of waste to wealth through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in conformity with the circular economy approaches which is a paradigm shift from the linear economy approach that advocate for a cradle to grave system. The EPR Programme places an obligation on producers, which includes importer, manufactures, assembler and major distributors to take back their products once it gets to its ends of life in line with the concept of circular economy of cradle to cradle”, explained Abdullahi.
In an address of welcome, the Director General of NESREA , Professor Aliyu Jauro said through the project, the country has responded to the challenges posed by e-waste by committing to the formulation of policies and putting in place legislative and institutional framework for better environmental governance and sustainability among others,
According to Professor Jauro, Proper waste management is essential to protect human health and the environment to preserve natural resources.
In his words;
“I am glad to welcome you all to this epoch-making event- the close-out of the Global Environment Facility Funded Project on Circular Economy Approaches for the Electronic Sector in Nigeria with support from the United Nations Environment Programme, which was executed by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) here in Lagos State.
” Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, we all know that one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally is e-waste and the attendant environmental and health challenges it comes with, are grave. The environmental and health problems are due to the hazardous material contained in them such as lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as brominated flame retardants. For us as a Nation, a clean and healthy environment is critical to the succour of our country’s developmental growth and key to achieving other goals.
” Nigeria has responded to these challenges posed by e-waste by committing to among others, formulation of policies and putting in place legislative and institutional framework for better environmental governance and sustainability. Proper waste management is essential to protect human health and the environment to preserve natural resources.
“Environmentally sustainable concepts and tools such as eco-efficiency, eco-labelling, product stewardship, green design, life cycle management and more recently, the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme has become the driving force in the circular economy principle (turning waste to wealth).
” In 2011 the Agency owing to the growing trend on the importation of new and e-waste mixed with used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE), developed, the Guide for Importers of Used Electrical Electronics and Gazette the National Environmental (Electrical and Electronic Sector) Regulation to address the importation of EEE, collection and treatment of the waste that is generated at their end-of-life.
” The Regulation provided for the EPR Programme as a means of addressing waste emanating from the sector where Producers including Importers and Assemblers are responsible for the Environmentally Sound Collection and treatment of their products at end-of-life.
” The efforts of the Agency helped in securing the Global Environment Facility project on Circular Economy Approaches for the electronics sector with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme while NESREA executed the project.
“The project objectives were to reduce the release of global pollutants (pops, mercury and chemicals) into the environment from the unsound handling and management of e-waste, reduce the impacts on vulnerable populations engaged in the sector (women and children) as well as reducing the contamination of air, land and water at local and by extension, at the global level”, he added.
A representative of UNEP, Eloise Touni who is the Task Manager GEF Chemicals and wastes said the entire international community would be proud of Nigeria for delivering the project within the stipulated time, as she hoped the country tries it’s best to sustain the project.
The project which costs GEF the sum of 15 million Dollars entailed making electrical and electronics Wastes, popularly known as E-Wastes a part of the circular economy.
A major aspect of the project is the Extended Producers Responsibility, EPR, Programme , which is aimed at holding manufacturers and producers of E wastes accountable in the management of wastes from their products.
