NESREA TRAINS STAKEHOLDERS ON E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility, (GEF), Monday kicked off a training programme for government regulators and the value chain on e-waste management in the country.

The five-day programme was for government regulators at the federal level and Lagos state, as well as producers of electrical and electronics equipment, collectors and recyclers.

Speaking at the flag off of the training, the Director General of NESREA, Prof Aliyu Jaruo stated that poor handling of waste from electrical/electronics products posed a threat for the environment.

He said, “the capacity building was designed “to empower government inspectors and relevant stakeholders with technical knowledge and the value chain to conduct their operations in an environmentally sound manner.”

The DG added that as part of its mandate, the agency was already enforcing compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility Programme (EPR) in various sectors of the economy, including the electrical and electronics sector.

The representative of UNEP, Mr. Fang Wang said it was important for all the relevant stakeholders to be part of the programme so that no one is left behind.

“The EPR will be wholly implemented by the private sector through e-waste producers’ responsibility organisation (EPRON), NESREA and other government agencies will be there to play a role of monitoring, supporting and also checking the progress”, he noted.

The project, Circular Economy Approaches in the   Electronics Sector in Nigeria is intended to collect and treat 300 tonnes of e-waste.​