BY

PROF OLADELE OSIBANJO

DIRECTOR,

BASEL CONVENTION COORDINATING CENTRE FOR AFRICA

REGION, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA.

E-mail: osibanjo@basel.org .ng

copy to: oosibanjo@yahoo.comPresented at :International Summit on the Regulation &

Management of E-Waste in Nigeria : Eko E-Waste Summit

24-25 February 2011, Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction / Definition of E-waste

Information Communication

Technology (ICT) in Africa and globally

Environmental and Health Impact of

Improper E-waste Management in

Nigeria

National and International efforts at

ESM of E-waste

Conclusions and Recommendations

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has

revolutionized modern living, international

business, global

governance, communication, entertainment, transpo

rt, education, and health care with fast

communication gadgets, and today we have e-

commerce, e-banking, e-government, tele-medicine

, the global system of mobile communication (GSM)

and other recent innovations.

This is driven by unprecedented high volumes of

production and usage of consumer electronics

especially Personal computers; Laptop computers;

Phones; and Cellular phones.

Access to ICT has been identified as an indicator of

a country‟s economic and social development and

„digital divide‟ exists between developed and

developed countries

Fig.1:Typical computer set showing components and peripherals

Products of IT Age

ICT explosion in developing countries is faciliated by

the importation of secondhand or used computers

and mobile phones from rich, developed countries

especially Europe and the United States of America

(USA).

Used electrical and electronic equipment (UEEE) is

valuable to socio-economic development of Africa

as most ICT activities including

cybercafés, educational institutions and small

businesses depend on imported secondhand

computers and mobile phones.

Definitions of E-wasteNew or used electrical and electronicequipment(EEE) when they reach end of their usefullife become waste.Globally, WEEE/ E-waste are most commonly usedterms for electronic waste. There is no standarddefinition of WEEE/ E-waste .

An electrically powered appliance that no longersatisfies the current owner for its original purpose.

Any device with a printed circuit board and itsassociated peripherals.

Any appliance using an electrical supply that hasreached its end-of-life.

Examples : TVs, monitors, cell phones, computersand peripherals (printers, copiers, scanners, etc.),stereos, radios, VCR & DVD players, smoke alarms,Medical equipment white goods (refrigerators etc).

European Union WEEE Directive

WEEE Directive (EU, 2002a)

“Electrical or electronic equipment which is waste including allcomponents, subassemblies and consumables, which are partof the product at the time of discarding.”

Directive 75/442/EEC, Article 1(a) defines “waste” as “anysubstance or object which the holder disposes of or isrequired to dispose of pursuant to the provisions of nationallaw in force.”

(a) „electrical and electronic equipment‟ or „EEE‟ meansequipment which is dependent on electrical currents orelectromagnetic fields in order to work properly andequipment for the generation, transfer and measurement ofsuch current and fields falling under the categories set out inAnnex IA to Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE) and designed foruse with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000 volts foralternating current and 1500 volts for direct current

Categories of EEE covered by EU Directive Large household appliances e.g. fridges, freezers, dish washers Small household appliances e.g. vacuum cleaners, toasters, grinders IT and telecommunications equipment e.g. personal computers, laptops,

printers Consumer equipment e.g. Radio/TV sets, Video/Camera recorders, Hi-fi

recorders, musical instruments Lighting equipment e.g. fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge

lamps, low pressure sodium lamp Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale

stationary industrial tools) e.g. Drills, Saws, Sewing machines,Welding/soldering equipment

Toys, leisure and sports equipment e.g. electric trains, car racing sets,video games, electric and electronic sports equipment

Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infectedproducts) e.g. radiotherapy/cardiology equipment, Dialyzers

Monitoring and control instruments e.g. smoke detectors, thermostats,measuring, weighing, weighing or adjusting appliances for household oras laboratory equipment

Automatic dispensers e.g. automatic dispensers for hot drinks/solidproducts/money‟ all appliances for household or as laboratoryequipment

Electrical Electronic Equipment Typology

Second hand market for computers and mobile phones in Lagos

The developed countries benefited from theinformation technology (IT) revolution ofthe 1980s and 1990s while mostdeveloping countries and Africa inparticular are still lagging behind .

In Africa during the mid-1990s, there were3.4 million customers waiting an average of3.5 years for telephone service; in Sub-Saharan Africa, the picture is even slowerwith nearly 1.2 million customers waiting anaverage of 5.4 years

: Distribution of basic ICT access indicators in Africa as percentage of the world

Landlines PC population Cellular Internet Internet Users

Lines Hosts

Africa 20,043,100 7,556,000 11,295,000 274,742 6,735,700

World 9,281,040,000 495,366,000 727,186,200 141,382,198 498,666,700

Percent 0.22 1.53 0.16 0.19 1.35

.

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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Africa World Europe USA Sweden

Pen

etr

ati

on

(%

)

landlines PC population Cellular lines

Figure 3: Comparison of ICT penetrations in Africa with selected countries.

Source: Data adapted from Ya’u 2005.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Africa World Europe USA Sweden

Inte

rnet

pen

etra

tio

n

Internet hosts Internet Users

Comparison of Internet penetrations in Africa with selected

countries.

Africa and ICT

Profile of Africa :

• Internet penetration

is low as 5.6% of the

population (13% of

global population) -use

the internet in Africa

compared to the world

average of 26.6 %

• However between

2000 and 2008, the

number of users in

Africa grew by a

staggering 1,100 %

compared to the rest

of the world‟s 332.6 %.

• Thus Africa is

estimated to have one

of the fastest if not the

fastest internet use

growth rate

ICT to foster productivity and innovation

ICT are key to achieve the MDGs

Access to ICT is still very limited in most developing countries

Making ICT accessible for the base of the economic pyramid requires innovative models

Harnessing ICT for productivity and poverty reduction

Recent reports from the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) suggest that

Africa is the world's fastest growing market for

mobile phones –twice the global average.

Mobile subscribers on the continent by 2005

were estimated at 51.8 million, a staggering

1000 % increase since 1998.

The projected growth of the number of

subscribers is put at between 100 and 200

million by the year 2010.

This prediction will be surpassed as mobilephone subscribers in Nigeria alone hasalready reached about 50 million in 2007, arecord 10,000% increase since 2000.

This increase has been fueled by theimportation of cheaper second hand setsfrom developed countries.

Egypt has phenomenally increased the

number of mobile subscribers by about 500%

from 4.3 million in 2001 to about 24 million in

2007, and to about 40 million in 2009

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

30000000

35000000

40000000

1998

2000

2001

2002

2005

2007

2008

Figure 3: Profile of mobile phone subscribers in Egypt from 1998 to 2008

The growth of the personal computer

industry started in the early 1980s and by

1989, an estimated 21 million units were sold

worldwide; in 1998 this figure reached 93

million.

The United States EPA estimates that over 5

billion computers, televisions, cell phones,

printers, gaming systems, and other devices

have been sold since 1980, generating 2

million tons

Next slide below indicates the hyper growth rate of

computers in USA from 1965 when there were just

about 19 thousand computers to 2009 when the

number of computers in use had risen to

astronomical figure of about 275 million.

In other words we are dealing with consumer

products that are experiencing staggering rates of

growth.

The most telling column perhaps is the number of

computers per 1000 persons in column 2 of the next

slide which shows almost 1 computer to 1 American.

What is the Nigerian Situation?

Hyper-Growth in IT Consumption

PCs In Use By Regions

The exponential increase in the sale of

personal computers can be partly attributed to

three factors: (i) the decrease in the price of

personal computers, (ii) the emergence of the

internet in the early 1990s, and (iii) the rapid

increase in the raw processing power of

desktop computers.

In 2001, there were over 300 million internet

users worldwide and this was estimated to

increase to more than 500 million users by

2003.

Hyper-Obsolescence in IT Consumption

Today's computer industry brings new technology and 'upgrades' to market every 18 months.

Reasons: Rapid Innovation. No $$ incentive for “longevity”. Much $$ incentive for rapid, planned obsolescence – churning product.

= average life span of a personal computer now 2 years.

The following substances are commonly found

in EEE :

Precious metals: Gold (Au), silver (Ag),

palladium (Pd), and platinum (Pt);

Base metals: Copper (Cu); aluminium (Al),

nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), etc.;

Metals of concern: Mercury (Hg), beryllium

(Be), indium (In), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd),

arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), etc.;

Halogens: Bromine, fluorine, chlorine.

• Toxic MetalsLead, Cadmium, Mercury, Beryllium, Selenium,

Lithium, Antinomy, Arsenic

• Brominated Flame RetardantsTBBA (tetrabromo-bisphenol-A)

PBDE (polybrominateddiphenyl) etc.

• Other Halogenated HydrocarbonsPVC (polyvinyl chloride)

CFCs (chloroflourocarbons)

• Rare Earth ElementsYttrium, Europium, Americium

Hazardous e-Waste

Constituents

Health Risks•Lead•PVC•Brominated Fire retardants•Barium•Chromium•Mercury•Beryllium•Cadmium

The high turnover in the production of ICT equipment has however

caused rapid computer and mobile phone products obsolescence

which in turn has generated rapid and uncontrollable high volume of

e-waste driving a global e-waste trade.

Electrical and Electrical Equipment (EEE) as well as the post-

consumer waste, that is electronic waste or e-waste contain several

persistent, bioaccumulative and hazardous substances (PBTs)

Massive export of e-waste to developing countries including those of

Africa and Nigeria in particular which are overwhelmed by the sheer

volume of used EEE and/or e-waste which contain several hazardous

substances for which they lack the capacity and resources to handle

in an environmentally sound manner.

The hazardous substances contained in e-waste may be released into

the environment and pose environmental and human health risks.

Hazardous e-waste dumping has spread from Asia to Africa, South America and Eastern Europe under the disguise of bridging the so-called digital divide

It has resulted in the creation of digital dump with a global total of about 180m units per year dumped

E-waste is vast and growing with estimates of 50 million tons per year generated world wide (UNEP 2005). It is the fastest growing waste stream in the world.

Apart from Climate Change, e-waste is one of the major environmental challenges of the 21st century

Recent studies have revealed a phenomenaldevelopment that by 2016 developing countrieswill generate twice as much e-waste as developedcountries

Foresees that by 2030 developing countries will bediscarding 400-700m obsolete PCs per yearcompared to 200-300m in developed countries.

In 2007, 160 millions of PCs and 550 millionmobile phones reached the end of their life

Volume of African ICT equipment grows rapidly Developing countries will triple their e-waste by

2010

Products consumed massively will

create massive waste

50 Million Metric

Tonnes of e-Waste

Generated Globally

Each Year

END of LIFE EEE READY FOR EXPORT

A recent Basel Action Network (BAN) coordinated study in

Nigeria “Exporting Reuse and Abuse to Africa” (BAN 2005)

revealed the level of transboundary movement of second hand

and scrap electrical and electronic equipment into developing

countries.

An estimated 5 million personal computers, is imported

annually into Nigeria through the major sea port of Lagos

alone.

About 25–75% of the imported second hand computer wares

are unusable junk that are non-functional or unrepairable.

Second hand computer wares are also imported through

donations by charities to organizations and educational

institutions (a minor source of import) which imports have also

been found to contain 20-80% junk.

THE E-WASTE DISCHARGED AT LAGOS PORTS (Fig. A) & SOLD AT THE COMPUTER VILLAGE (Fig. B)

Fig. A Fig. BFig 6: Apapa Port of Entry Fig 7: Computer Village, Surulere, Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria 2005

500 Containers/month for

“Re-use”

ON SALE IN NIGERIA: MOBILE PHONES & A VARIETY OF EoL EEE

The major source of e-waste in Nigeria/Africa:

importation of admixture of used electrical electronic equipment

(UEEE), near EoL, and EoL UEEE or e-waste from developed countries

especially Europe and North America without testing for functionality

both in countries of export and import

Most of the e-waste exported from developed countries is exported

illegally in contradiction to International laws (Basel Convention) or

Regional (EU e-waste shipment regulation; Bamako Convention)

There is a lacuna as the near EoL UEEE are not covered by existing

international or regional conventions which makes near EoL

equipment/device difficult to regulate and control.

The international news media is awash in the past several months of

e-waste dumping in some African countries including

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal and Egypt

GLOBAL E-WASTE HOTSPOTS: NIGERIA AND GHANA IN AFRICA

75% estimated as “junk”

Developing countries lack the infrastructure for the

environmentally sound management (ESM) of e-

waste as well as legislation specifically for e-waste

control, while extant hazardous waste laws are

weakly enforced where they exist.

Crude waste management occurs in the informal

sector of the economy involving thousands of poor

people ignorant of the hazard of exposure to toxins

in e-waste.

The most vulnerable groups especially children and

women are actively involved in e-waste scavenging

and crude recycling activities.

The e-waste management in developing countries

can be categorised into four :

Sale of reusable and serviceable parts

Repair and refurbishment of used EEE for reuse

Disposal by dumping in non-engineered landfill, with

subsequent open burning of irreparable e-waste

components to reduce solid waste volume

Materials recovery of recyclables such as copper,

gold and silver from non-repairable e-waste by open

burning of cables (for copper) and or boiling in acid

(not common in Africa)

Dangerous practices include: Bashing open CRTs with hammers exposing the

toxic phosphorous dust therein Open burning of circuit boards to melt the lead

solder hence breathing toxic lead fumes

Burning wires to melt the plastics to recover

copper

Open acid baths (nitric-acid) for separating

metals

Dumping pure acids and dissolved heavy

metals into the soils, drains and rivers.

10 May 2009

Second session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management 49

Open Burning for disposal

of used computers in open dumpsite in Lagos

Cables collected for open burning and material recovery in Ghana

Open burning of cables for material recovery in Ghana

20 - 21 July 2009

49

Young man repairing PWB of computer waste in Lagos

Accra, Ghana 2009

Due to ease of externalization via

globalization, developing countries are

disproportionately burdened by pollution.

There is paucity of data on the environmental

impacts of E-waste in Africa

As a prelude to determining environmental

impact of e-waste management options in

Nigeria, 100 used EEE, near EoL and e-waste

were analysed for some heavy metals present

in printed wiring board (PWB) of computer

CPUs and monitors; as well as Cathode Ray

Tubes (CRTs) in monitors respectively.

Excessively high concentrations of heavy metals such aslead, copper, Nickel and mercury were found in about100 used computers and 80 mobile phones importedinto Nigeria at levels several folds higher thanconcentrations established for these metals to classifythem as hazardous . (Olubanjo 2009, Majolagbe 2009)

This study confirms that the so called UEEE importsanalyzed were hazardous e-waste.

See Table 1 next slide, for data on mean concentrationsof some heavy metals specifically copper and lead inPrinted Wiring Board of some computers.

Component Copper (mg/kg) Lead (mg/kg)

Printed wire board

(PWB) of Central

Processing Unit

(CPU)

83100 – 705300

(376195)

18060 – 400650

(89882)

Printed wire board

(PWB) of the monitor

39150 – 630300

(149819)

8460 – 80850 (47044)

Cathode ray tube 73.2 – 468 (166) 429 – 9900 (4341)

Table 1: Summary of the Range and Mean (in Parenthesis) of Copper and Lead

Concentration (mg/kg) in the Used Computer Components Analyzed in Nigeria.

Source : Olubanjo K A 2009

Mean Concentration of Pb (mg/kg) in the Printed Wiring Board/ PCB of CPUs Analysed versus TTLC = 1000 mg/kg

20 - 21 July 2009 NESREA International Conference on E-Waste Control, Abuja 59

0100002000030000400005000060000700008000090000

100000110000120000130000140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000240000250000260000270000280000290000300000310000320000330000340000350000360000370000380000390000400000

CPU 1

CPU2

CPU 3

CPU 4

CPU 5

CPU 6

CPU 7

CPU 8

CPU 9

CPU 10

CPU 11

CPU 12

CPU 13

CPU 14

CPU 15

CPU 16

CPU 17

CPU 18

CPU 19

CPU 20

CPU 21

CPU 22

CPU 23

CPU 24

CPU 25

CPU 26

CPU 27

CPU 28

CPU 29

CPU 30

CPU 31

CPU 32

CPU 33

CPU 34

CPU 35

Concen

tratio

n (mg/k

g)

TTLC

There is a paucity of data on post impact e-waste environmental studies in the Africa region

A recent study in Nigeria has demonstrated high concentrations of copper, nickel, zinc and lead in some of the soils far in excess of European Union limits (next slide) at e-waste dump sites in Lagos, Benin, and Aba cities in Nigeria (Nnorom 2010).

Contamination of plants and nearby surface waters in e-waste disposal sites by heavy metals was also reported in these sites (Nnorom 2009).

Nnorom 2009

Disruption to endocrine systems including the oestrogen, androgen, thyroid hormone,

retinoid and corticosteroid systems, inhibition of human androgen hormone reception, and

ability to mimic natural oestrogen hormones leading to altered sexual development in

some organisms.

Damage to both male and female reproductive systems, including interfering with

development of the testes, reduction in semen production and quality, abnormal

morphology of sperm, low egg hatchability, and reduced fertility rates.

DNA damage in lymphocytes, foetal and developmental toxicity, growth retardation,

abnormal brain development, which can result in intellectual impairment, and possible

long term impacts on memory, learning and behaviour.

Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) and blood system, including CNS depression

and neurotoxicity, immune system suppression, including inhibition of a key blood cell

enzyme.

Damage to brain, including swelling; liver, including liver necrosis; kidney including renal

toxicity; thyroid; pancreas; lymph nodes; spleen; and bone, including bone toxicity.

Hypertension (high blood pressure); cardiovascular and heart disease; respiratory tract

irritation, including irritation of the nose, mouth and eyes.

Vomiting, headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Contact dermatitis, skin lesions, carcinogenic, including tumour promotion and lung

cancer; anaemia; CBD (a currently incurable, debilitating disease that can sometimes be

fatal); and mortality.

PVC

Cancer

Disruption of the endocrine system

Reproductive impairment

Impaired child development and birth defects

Neurotoxicity (damage to the brain or its function), and

Immune system suppression

Dioxin

neurotoxic effects

Brominated Fire Retardants

endocrine disrupters

linked to thyroid and liver damage

cancer of the digestive and lymph system

2006 Nairobi Declaration on the ESM of e-waste at COP8 of

Basel Convention

Establishment of Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI)

2005- Guidelines developed

Establishment of Partnership for Action on Computing

Equipment in January 2009 ( Prof O Osibanjo Nigeria is Co-

chair)- Finalization of Guidelines recently developed by PACE

on Environmentally sound testing, refurbishment &repair of

used computing equipment ; and Environmentally Sound

materials recovery and Recycling of End of Life Computing

equipment

Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) by United Nations

University, UNU

E-waste Adopted as one of the four emerging global

environmental policy issues in May 2009 by the 2nd

International Conference on Chemicals Management under

SAICM OF UNEP

2006 Nairobi Declaration on the ESM of e-waste at COP8 of

Basel Convention

Establishment of Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative (MPPI)

2005- Guidelines developed

Establishment of Partnership for Action on Computing

Equipment in January 2009 ( Prof O Osibanjo Nigeria is Co-

chair)- Guidelines developed by PACE on Testing, Repair and

Refurbishment of Computing Equipment; and Guidelines on

Sound Materials Recovery and Recycling of End of life

computing equipment to be tested in developing countries

Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative by United Nations

University, UNU; StEP Summer School for young scientists

E-waste Adopted as one of the four emerging global policy

issues in May 2009 by the 2nd International Conference on

Chemicals Management under SAICM OF UNEP

Secretariat of Basel Convention E-waste Africa Project funded

by EU being coordinated by BCCC-Nigeria

International Response to Global E-waste Problem

Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV) organized

the 1st National Workshop on E-waste in 2007

FMENV developed Draft National Policy on E-waste

in 2009

National Agency for Environmental Standards and

Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)

organized the first international workshop on E-

waste in Nigeria in July 2009 and came out with

Abuja Platform with recommendations on

international, regional and national strategies for

sound E-waste management

NESREA developed Draft National Regulations on E-

waste 2010

LASEPA and LAWMA already collecting and

warehousing E-waste

E-waste is an emerging environmental problem in Africa and the rest

of the world. Nigeria is the hub of E-waste problem in Africa. Hence

the significance of this Eko International Summit in E-Waste.

It is one of the major emerging global policy issues adopted at the

Second International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2)

in Geneva in May 2009.

Extending the life time of Personal Computers s an economic and anecological imperative

E-waste is a paradox of some sort as it has both beneficial and

harmful effects.

National, regional and global cooperative actions are required to find a

lasting solution to the problem. Nigeria, Africa and entire third world

is at risk from the sheer volume of e-waste influx in view of extant

weak infrastructural ,institutional, and regulatory framework for solid

wastes and with none operational yet for e-waste.

Recognising the nexus between environmentally sound management

of wastes and chemicals and sustainable development, the

uninterrupted influx of e-waste is a risk factor towards achievement of

sustaianble develepment and attainment of millenium development

goals in Africa.

It has been shown from the limited studies done that most ofthe UEEE exported to Nigeria are hazardous withconcentrations of heavy metals several fold higher thanpermissible levels in developed countries.

Contamination of environment with potential for adversehuman health impact has also been demonstrated.

Increased monitoring efforts and vigilance of NESREA at theports in trying to halt dumping of E-waste is commemndable

The lacuna with the non-application of the Basel Convention tonear end of life UEEE requires urgent global action and Nigeriashould take a lead in collaboration with other stakeholders toplug the loophole.

Finding a speedy solution to the e-waste problem is crucial forsustainable development in Nigeria and Africa.

The export of UEEE to Nigeria, Africa and other developingcountries should not be banned but controlled; as it providesopportunities for employment, poverty alleviation, recyclingbusiness, and bridging the digital divide. The presentloopholes and abuses must be addressed urgently. Importersand Exporters of UEEE should be registered by NESREA

The Basel Convention, Bamako Convention, EU E-wastecontrol laws and other relevant international laws should bestrengthened; while African countries should domesticatethose laws already ratified, and introduce national and regionallaws on e-waste and diligetly enforce them.

The Federal government should speedily sign the NESREA E-waste regulations into law and ensure they are diligentlyenforced

NESREA should be at the ports along with other securityagents to be effective in halting E-waste dumping in Nigeria

Need for stricter controls on the transboundary movement of e-waste

(Basel Convention)

Need to sign into law urgently NESREA‟s formulate and enforce

diligently national legislation to regulate the reuse of used electronic

products

Manufacturers of EEE products (Original Equipment Manufacturers,

OEMs) should be responsible for their products from the design stage

to final disposal (Extended Producer Responsibility)

OEMs should take the lead by voluntarily phasing out all hazardous

chemicals and materials from their products(Green design)

OEMs should establish effective take back and recycling schemes for

end-of-life products in developing countries; this scheme already

exists in developed countries

The Federal and State Governments as appropriate in partnership with

the private sector should formalize the informal recycling sector by

establishing state-of-art recycling facilities in Nigeria with the informalsector fully integrated into the projects.

Intense awareness raising and education at all levels about e-waste

along the supply chain and based on lifecycle approach is imperative

for Africa‟s drive to attainment of environmental sustainability

Recognize the laudable efforts of on-going international and

international initiatives to solve the e-waste problem through

partnerships such as Basel‟s PACE, StEP, UNESCO etc as well as the

EU funded E-waste Africa Project

Promote recycling and environmentally sound materials/resource

recovery from e-waste in Nigeria, Africa and globally.

Build the capacity of national governments and people including the

informal sector in sound e-waste management in Nigeria, Africa and

third world in general is imperative

Promote North - South and South-South cooperation in solving the E-

waste problem as e-waste is a global problem and is therefore

everybody‟s business

20 - 21 July 2009 NESREA International Conference on E-Waste Control, Abuja 76

Thank You