E-WASTE: STRATEGIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The growing importance of proper disposal of electronic waste has been brought to the forefront in recent times. This article examines the role of legislation to compel producers to take back their products which are nearing the end of life.1Other objectives are to find out how E - waste can be transformed to more precious materials that are economically viable, and to combat the tendency to use less developed economies as dumping ground for discarded electronic waste items. This paper finds that there are growing mounds of electronic waste in metropolitan areas in Nigeria such as Lagos, where refurbishing of discarded computer terminals and other accessories for sale takes place. Therefore the paper draws attention to measures that should be put into place to ensure that this process is safely maximised such that rare metals within the components are converted to other useful items.2 The paper recommends that users of electronic products be encouraged to practice long use of appliances such as phones and computers to curb the environmental impact of such waste; and to put in place the enabling legal framework to monitor and regulate E- waste handling and disposal. The methodology employed is doctrinal research.