E-waste recycling in Nigeria

1. E-waste recycling in Nigeria Phil Conran

2. Reclaimed Appliances • Operate commercial treatment process in UK under WEEE Regulations • Recycle, repair and re-use all types of E-waste • Approved exporter status with Environment Agency • The University of Northampton • UK Centre of Excellence for Wastes Management • Training and education in all aspects of sustainable wastes management

3. Visits • July 2008 UK delegation visited Nigeria and met with Professor Osibanjo of the Basel Convention Regional Coordinating Centre for Africa. Also visits to markets, informal recycling centres etc • August 2008 Nigerian delegation visited UK including tour of Reclaimed Appliances and meeting with DEFRA and the Environment Agency.

4. Key findings • Unregulated import, collection, treatment, recycling and disposal process • Perceived large scale WEEE ‘dumping’ from overseas • No formal e-waste segregation process from municipal or business users • Effective but uncontrolled value extraction process • No environmental, health & safety standards • Little public awareness of risks or effects

5. Requirements • Proportionate regulation with appropriate official enforcement • Training of regulators and collectors • Formal collection and treatment infrastructure • Appropriate treatment technology • Optimised revenue streams • Sufficient financial incentive to create viable alternative • Education of public and existing networks

6. Summary Proposal • To establish a WEEE recycling facility in Nigeria • Environmentally sound management of e-waste • Sustainable financing model • Protect the health and well being of informal sector • Provide jobs and training • Capacity building • Model that can be replicated

7. Proposal • Establish new Nigerian Company • Partnership between Reclaimed Appliances and BCRCCA • Apply Best Available Treatment Recovery and Recycling Techniques (BATRRT) • Work with existing infrastructure

8. Franchised collection agent provided with • Container • PPE • Training • Procedures • Standards Port of Lagos WEEE Treatment Facility Sorted WEEE categorised by material and treatment process £ Value from end markets Export end use markets Geographical franchises Trained scavengers EEE Waste Payment

9. Proposal • Facility could include • CRT processing equipment • Equipment for recycling gas discharge lamps • Baling equipment • ODS removal • Specialist vehicles • Containers

10. Proposal • Work with informal sector to develop system of franchised collection agents, provided with: • Container • PPE • Training • Procedures • Standards

11. Financing • Requirement for self-financing for sustainability • Market expertise and appropriate technology will enable the system to be largely self funding • Some e-waste has negative value eg CRT displays • If funding needed, options under consideration include • Small levy on imports of all electrical equipment • Pump priming for processing equipment

12. Training and Education • Universities of Ibadan and Northampton • Funding from British Council: Education Partnerships in Africa • Develop education and training materials for informal sector, staff for new facility, regulators etc • Workshops and staff exchange • On going partnership

13. Summary • The proposal offers: • Environmentally sound management of EEE-waste • Training of the informal sector and others to earn a living without health risks • A practical solution that can be replicated throughout the developing world • Self sustaining finance