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
Background

• OMIS feasibility report conducted
• Operating Principles established with Basel
  Convention and Environment Ministry
• Mutual visits conducted
• RA to Nigeria to assess existing system and
  process
• BC and EM to UK to investigate UK
  systems and RA processes
• Facilities identified
• Training needs assessed

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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

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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

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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

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Proposal

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

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• Franchised collection agent provided with
• Container
• PPE
• Training
• Procedures
• Standards

Geographical franchises
Trained scavengers
EEE Waste
Payment
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Proposal

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

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Proposal

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

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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

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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

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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