The E-waste Relief Foundation (ERF) is committed to training one hundred (100) informal e-waste handlers in Lagos starting from Alaba International Market and Computer Village on the proper handling of electronic waste (e-waste). The President of ERF, Dr Ifeanyi Ochonogor on Wednesday in Lagos during the training said that the training would enhance the capacity and management of e-waste handlers and at the same time keep them healthy. He said that the objective of the programme is to upgrade the way the informal sector handles e-waste. He added that e-waste had been doing a lot of harm to the country’s ozone layer and ecosystem. “The training is necessary to forestall misconduct in the disposal of e-waste as they contain hazardous components” he added. Dr Ifeanyi further enunciated that e-waste releases toxins into the air, water and soil as informal handlers burn cables to get copper. This he said should be stopped.
“We are training 100 participants from Alaba market and Computer Village on how to handle electronic waste. They will be trained by top government officials and experts who know the implication of e-waste and are willing to do something about it. There will be monitoring measures (such as quarterly programmes and networking agencies) in place to ensure that the training is effective and that material given to e-waste handlers will be judiciously used,” he said. Ochonogor also commended government’s effort in waste management and urged government at all levels to participate more by providing basic infrastructure needed to properly manage e-waste.
The Chairman of ERF, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo said that his dream is to see that the informal e-waste handlers are integrated to the formal sector and that they make money without endangering themselves. According to him, e-waste handlers are usually exposed to ill health due to improper e-waste management practices and could possibly die without enjoying the money made from e-waste business. He went on to explain the sweet and sour side of e-waste; the sweet side being the acquisition of copper, silver or gold while the sour side is spread of carcinogenic or cancerous toxins. Prof Osibanjo stated that with proper e-waste management practices, training and awareness creation, the scourge of e-waste can be ameliorated and that it is the reason for the training programme.
Informal handlers, also known as scavengers, exist all over the world. They are not organized and do not care about the environment. They make a living by recovering valuables from e-waste via crude methods that endanger human health and the environment. Research has however shown that they are prone to avoidable diseases and often have a short life span. The objective of the training is to equip informal handlers with international best practices of e-waste management, such as the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) e.g. goggles, earplugs, nose masks, helmets amongst others. The use of PPEs while handling e-waste among other benefits reduces direct exposure to e-waste contaminants. Equipping informal handlers and incorporating them into the formal stream will in addition to solving environmental problems attract international funding for these handlers. In his remarks, Mr Shamsideen Amisu, the Secretary of the National Association of Waste and Scrap Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWADEEN) said the training is vital in sensitizing scrap dealers on proper e-waste management as well as the inherent dangers of improper e-waste management. ” With this training, my members will know how to properly handle e-waste and also make efforts in protecting themselves so that they will be healthy” he said