NESREA, NBC to tackle e-waste in broadcast sector

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have set up an inter-agency committee to tackle e-waste in the broadcast sector.

The committee, according to NESREA, was inaugurated to strengthen the partnership between the two agencies in the management of e-waste, particularly to ensure a free environment at the end of the Digital Switch Over in Nigeria.

NESREA Director General, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, who performed the ceremony in Abuja, stated that the hazardous content inherent in e-waste has posed a threat to human health and the environment, “So, we are to handle it in an environmentally sound manner.”

Represented by the Director, of Inspection and Enforcement, Abdulsalaam Isa, Jauro said NESREA has taken necessary steps to rid the country of e-waste by developing its operational guidelines of the National Environmental (Electrical and Electronic Sector) Regulations, 2022.

According to him, this has been reviewed and ready for gazette, in which they have developed the Guide for Importers of Used Electrical Electronic Equipment and the registration of Importers of Electrical Electronic Equipment to regulate their activities.

He further explained that they had conducted training for Importers of Used Electrical Electronic Equipment(UEEE) on the effects of importation of e-waste here, and published the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) operational guideline.

He said the high point in the management of e-waste in Nigeria was the successful execution of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded project with notable accomplishments in Lagos where the pilot project was carried out.

“Under the project, NESREA midwife the establishment of 30 collection centres in Lagos State, as well as upgraded two recycling facilities
and carried out training for government regulators and e-waste value chain,” he added.

Jauro stated: “We have provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for collectors including informal collectors, formalised over 400 informal e-waste collectors, and carried out awareness programmes on the project on various media.”

The Director General said they have gazetted the Guidance Document for the implementation of the EPR Programme in line with Circular Economy and collected 300 tonnes of e-waste for the two recyclers under the project.

Also speaking, Engr. Ruth Caleb of NBC thanked the agency for constituting the committee to ensure that electronic wastes are adequately tackled on our society, as well as making provision for them to be recycled for other uses in the country.