E-WASTE MANAGEMENT IN LAGOS STATE : CURRENT SITUATION OF E-WASTE HANDLING -

REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION.

PAPER PRESENTATION BY ENGR. ADEBOLA R. SHABI

[MNSE],

GENERAL MANAGER, LAGOS STATE ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY (LASEPA).

INTRODUCTION

• E-waste or Electrical Electronic Equipment (EEE) is a term used to describe old,, obsolete, broken or discarded, end of life electrical or electronic devices or appliances.

• It is a generic term embracing all types of waste containing electricity powered components that includes computers, mobile phones, television set, consumer electronic, cathode ray tube (CRT), fridges etc which have been disposed off by their original users.

CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL &ELECTRONIC GOODS

• The electronic and electrical goods are broadly classified under three major heads.

White goods:

• Comprising of house hold appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.

Brown goods:

• This include televisions, cameras etc. and

Grey goods:

This includes computers, scanners, printers, mobiles phones etc.

Other sources of e-waste are consumer and lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, sophisticated toys, sports equipment, medical devices, monitoring and control instruments etc.

LAGOS & E- WASTE Lagos with a population of over 17.5 million inhabitants plays a

major role in international trade. A larger percentage of imported goods are channeled through the Tincan Island or Apapa Ports.

The imported E-wastes are majorly sold (after it has been refurbished) in four different markets in Lagos.

Alaba Market, Westminster Market, Ikeja Computer Village Lawanson Market). This represent the biggest west African market for new and used

electric and electronic equipment. • The role of Lagos State as major population and business centre

and hub for goods is also reflected in the amounts of E-waste generated and recycled within the state.

ROLES OF LASEPA IN E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

• The mission of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is to safeguard environmental quality that is consistent with the social and economic needs of the State, so as to protect health, welfare, property and quality of life.

• As an implementing organ of the State’s policies on the environment, the Agency gives preference to and works hand in hand with all environmental stakeholders as well as national and international agencies on the environment. Consequently, we work under the ambit of all Laws, Treaties, Regulations, Conventions, Conferences or Agreements entered into by the National or State Government with respect to the Environment.

ROLES OF LASEPA IN E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

In line with its statutory responsibility, LASEPA has been mandated to create a plan for sound management of E-waste in the state. The scope of the E-waste management strategy involves;

Building an adequate organisational base infrastructure which can be achieved by partnering with private organisation in establishing recycling plants for E-waste.

Regulating the crude recycling by informal sector through training and workshops.

Involving service providers in creating awareness to Lagos citizenry on the effects of E- waste on Health and Environment.

Capacity to audit all EEE in corporate, household and informal sectors.

ROLES OF LASEPA IN E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

Provision of appropriate Equipment, Technical and Environmental expertise to process E-waste materials.

Encourage citizen participation in all phases of the E-waste management planning along the chain and EEE lifecycle to help gain community awareness input.

Corporate company can be viable partners in awareness raising on E-waste issues at community level.

Empowerment program for informal sector to improve their social economic impact in the state.

Educating the public about what E-waste is, why it is a matter of human Health and Environmental concerns and the value of proper recycling and responsible disposals.

THE PROBLEM OF E-WASTE IN THE STATE

Poverty has created immense opportunity and incentives For illegal trafficking of waste Labour intensive activity operated mainly by small Business and

informal sectors with weak capacity to Handle e-waste recycling and disposal

offer business opportunity (economic benefits) While the environmental cost is externalized

Satisfies high demand for cheap second -Hand products (in an environment where Poverty is prevalent) Processed by deploying the most primitive methods and very

backward technology under poor environmental conditions; Damage to health and environment

RECYCLING OF E-WASTE IN LAGOS STATE

• Informal Recycling (Crude Methods) handles about 50 percent to 80 percent of e-waste, it involves shredding, burning, and dismantling the products mostly in backyards shanties and dumpsites. Emissions from these recycling practices are damaging to human health and the environment.

• Formal Recycling (Safe handling): This is the proper way of recycling, taking, Health, Safety and the Environment into consideration

Informal Recycling

Formal recycling of E-waste

EXISTING LEGAL FRAME WORK (National/International (Laws)

Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions) Act, 1988 , prohibit the carrying, depositing And dumping of harmful waste on any land, Territorial waters ;

NESREA Act;

Nigeria ratified the Basel Convention inMarch,1991;Amendment to the Basel Convention in May 2004 ;and a Signatory to Bamako Convention in December,2008

Non–Legislative

• Initiative–MOU signed between NESREA, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Consumer Protection Council and Alaba international

• Market Amalgamated Traders Associated to fight e-waste and privacy .

Legal Framework And Regulation

The Lagos State Government through the State Ministry of Environment and LASEPA is determined to avert the environmental hazards of ever increasing toxic heavy metal contained in the electrical/ electronic equipment in our environment.

So far, LASEPA has developed draft policy, and strategic plan on the management of e-waste which are all awaiting ratification by relevant stakeholders.

Furthermore, regulations on the management of e-waste had been prepared by the National Environmental Standard Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), which has been approved and are in use.

The Federal Ministry Of Environment has also developed a draft Policy .

KEY PROVISIONS IN THE POLICY The Lagos State e-waste Policy sets a clear direction for the State

over the next 10 years towards producing less e-waste for disposal and managing e-waste as a resource to delivering economic, environmental and social benefits. Key provisions include the following:

Incorporates the Extended Producer Responsibility;

Designation of responsibilities /roles to different

Stakeholders (MOE, LASEPA ,LAWMA etc)

Set Performance Target and Recycling Standards ;

Practice of Environmentally Sound Management (ESM);

Equal treatment without preference in relation to enforcement of the policy.

Develop incentives for establishment of sustainable e-waste disposal facilities through mutually beneficial reuse and/or recycling schemes.

ACHIEVEMENT OF LASEPA IN E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

The 1st International E-waste Summit in Nigeria which took place between 24th -25th of February, 2011 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki-Epe Express Road, Victoria Island. The theme of the summit was ‘REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE IN NIGERIA’.

The E-waste Unit in LASEPA was created based on a recommendation in the communiqué from the Summit.

A 2-day workshop for Health Officers in the Twenty (20) Local Government Areas and Thirty- Seven (37) LCDAs was organized.

The Post E-waste Summit took place on the 7th of July, 2011 with stakeholders from the Public and Private Sectors in attendance.

Sensitization and awareness visits were made to both formal and informal sectors in the State and more than Two Hundred and Forty (240) Companies had been visited.

ACHIEVEMENT OF LASEPA IN E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

Several public enlightenment programs were organized for both Formal and Informal sectors, second hand marketers within the State in conjunction with NESREA.

Evacuation of E-waste from Industries and Government Establishments to the recycling site located at Ogijo, along Ikorodu - Shagamu Road.

Consultative forum was organized for Telecomm service providers on waste management.

Consultation on the proposed Lagos State E-waste Management Policy.

Challenges

Awareness

Man-Power Training/

Development

Legal Framework

Collection System

Environmental

/Health

Extended Producers

Responsibility

(EPR)

SOLUTIONS

Need to harmonise existing Environmental Protection Laws at the States and Federal Levels. Extended Producers Responsibility. Man-Power Training and Development. Tripartite cooperation (Producers-Public-Government). Sustained Awareness programs. Monitoring and enforcement of existing Laws for

compliance. Reduction of waste at source. Investment opportunity in waste management sector Absorption of the informal sector in e-waste management.

THANK YOU