Informal e-waste management in Nigeria: A comprehensive analysis of practices, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable solutions towards a circular economy

In Nigeria, e-waste management is predominantly handled by the informal sector, which relies on crude methods, causing environmental and health risks. E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) conducted a study focused on informal e-waste collection and management practices, aiming to inform the development of a sustainable, circular e-waste management system. The study surveyed 495 informal operators and found that most e-waste collectors are male (96.8%) with an average age of 33 years. Awareness of e-waste regulations is low, with 61.6% unaware of existing regulations and 58.2% unaware of the ban on e-waste imports and cathode-ray tube (CRT) devices. Despite this, 63.6% of collectors are aware of the importation of used electrical and electronic equipment, most of which is non-functional. House-to-house collection is the most common source of e-waste (55.2%), followed by shops (19.6%) and offices (14.1%). Televisions, mobile phones, freezers, and pressing irons are the most frequently collected items, and 84% of collectors compensate consumers for e-waste. Door-to-door collection is the preferred method for 54% of collectors, while only 11% collect from dumpsites. Items such as plastics, CRT glass, bulbs, and phone screens are rarely collected. Most collectors engage in pre-processing activities, using manual dismantling to recover valuable materials, with 44% transferring e-waste to major collection centres. However, 68% of collectors do not keep records while only 51.5% of collectors regularly use personal protective equipment. Improving informal e-waste management in Nigeria requires targeted awareness raising on the legal recognition of e-waste and the penalties associated with its indiscriminate handling. Improving collection infrastructure, designing improved incentives for adhering to formal collection and recycling channels, training of collectors, enforcing regulations, and collaborating with stakeholders are highly recommended.