E-Waste Recycling
Recycling initiatives awareness is gaining momentum in Nigeria as companies have started to become more aware of the impact of e-waste on the environment. Whilst most organizations know how to recycle paper, glass and plastic, correctly disposing of electronic waste (e-waste) is often not featured in company waste management plans.
E-waste, also known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is classified as any unwanted electrical equipment and includes white goods, such as microwaves, fridges and washing machines; consumer electronics such as televisions; and IT products, which includes computers, cellphones and printers.
In the last decade Nigeria has seen growth in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) area. Almost all businesses from SMEs to multinationals uses IT equipment/devices and more Nigerians have personal computers and cellphones than ever before due to rapid technology change, low initial costs and decreased lifespan of electronic products. The result of this is that the turnover time of electronic equipment has increased dramatically and electronic equipment is replaced within a short period of time. In office environments computers, fax machines and printers often have very short lifespans. It is estimated that thousands of tons of e-waste is generated yearly by the corporate world in Nigeria.
Large amounts of e-waste are either stored away or are dumped on dump sites across our cities. Not only is the space that they take up a problem, but electronic goods often contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium and if these chemicals enter the water table can be ingested. These substances must be disposed responsibly. E-waste also contains valuable materials such as copper and nickel which can be reclaimed.
Disposing of electronic waste (e-waste) can be done responsibly. Key steps for organizations in Nigeria to consider are:
- Purchasing electronic items with a longer lifespan so that the turnover of electronic products is decreased.
- Donating old equipment to organizations that can refurbish and give them out to local school or charity in need.
- Recycling items that cannot be reused or donated to a school or charity. The Initiates Plc. has the only e-waste processing plant in Nigeria. The Initiates disassemble the items and recycle the plastic and metals. However, recycling should be the last resort and reusing equipment is far kinder to the environment.
The Initiates Plc., operates a state of the art complete e-waste recycling facility which is first in West Africa. At our ‘end-to-end’ e-waste recycling facility processes all types of e-waste adhering to high HSE standards and in compliance with relevant government regulations
WHO WE ARE
The Initiates Plc. (TIP) is a professional Waste Management company Located in Port Harcourt Nigeria, delivering Waste Management, Industrial Cleaning and Decontamination services to both Private and Public sectors. TIP is quoted on the Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
TIP has a multi-disciplinary and flexible workforce and all relevant permits necessary for delivering waste management and industrial cleaning services.
Download: The Initiate Plc Profile