By Ojugbele Omotunde
Nigeria is facing the challenge of managing digital waste due to the increasing demand for advanced electronic devices which has led to a surge in e-waste, which includes discarded, obsolete, or non-functional electronic components.
Research has revealed that an astounding 1.1 million tonnes of e-waste are produced in the country on yearly basis. The negligent disposal of this waste, together with its mixing with municipal solid waste, informal dumping, and placement in different locations, pose significant risks to the environment and public health.
This waste can take various forms, including obsolete mobile phones, outdated laptops, gaming consoles, wearable devices, and abandoned servers and IT equipment.
Improper disposal of electronic devices, containing plastics, metals, and toxic components, can lead to severe ecological consequences and Inadequate recycling methods and landfills contribute to soil contamination, air pollution, and adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems.
In order to combat climate change and reach the objective of having a net-zero economy by 2050, it is important to manage the environmental impact of the digital industry in addition to lowering emissions.
There are various strategies in which other countries deal with electronic waste and which Nigeria can implement.
Strategies like role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), product stewardship, and the circular economy.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a waste management strategy that places manufacturers in charge of managing the entire product life cycle, including post-consumer phases and this approach entails supervising product disposal, recycling, and collection, and it introduces accountability by taking the burden of care off of consumers and local government agencies.
Due to its decrease of environmental effect, conservation of resources, and development of a circular economy, EPR is essential to Nigeria’s waste management as It promotes recyclability and resource conservation by incentivizing manufacturers to control the trash produced by their goods.
The concepts of a circular economy, which promote product recycling, refurbishment, or remanufacturing for sustainability, are also in line with EPR.
The Nigerian tech industry can effectively implement Electronic Product Recyclability (EPR) principles to reduce digital waste by incorporating EPR principles into product design, ensuring easy disassembly and recycling, and implementing take-back programs, companies can encourage Nigerian customers to return old or non-functional devices for proper disposal or recycling.
Additionally, tech giants can establish recycling initiatives that efficiently process electronic waste, adhering to responsible waste management principles.
Tech companies like Apple, Dell, and Sony have adopted EPR principles to manage waste responsibly.
Apple offers a recycling program for old devices, focusing on recycled materials in manufacturing while Dell’s recycling initiative reduces e-waste’s environmental impact in the region and Sony also provides recycling programs for old electronic products, demonstrating their commitment to responsible waste management.
Product Stewardship
Related Posts
Product stewardship is an all-encompassing approach to product management that lays the responsibility for reducing a product’s negative effects on the environment and human health on producers, retailers, and consumers.
Product stewardship is crucial in addressing digital waste, as it encourages responsible product design, minimizes toxic substances in digital products, and extends their lifespan through practices like repairability and upgradeability.
This approach helps manufacturers design products with a view to their entire lifecycle, minimize hazardous materials, and ensures a sustainable future for digital products.
Leading tech companies like Fairphone, Samsung, and Microsoft are promoting product stewardship as a key part of their sustainability efforts. Fairphone designs devices with modularity and repairability, Samsung has a comprehensive take-back and recycling program, and Microsoft has an ambitious sustainability plan.
The circular economy
The digital realm is embracing the principles of the circular economy by promoting product reuse, an endless lifecycle of digital content and software, and recycling and reuse of hardware.
This approach focuses on repairability, component reuse, and recycling, while also promoting sustainable data management for companies dealing with large data volumes. These principles aim to promote a more sustainable and efficient digital landscape.
Apple, Spotify, and Google are implementing circular economy principles, such as durability and reparability in their devices, reducing carbon emissions through carbon-neutral digital platforms, and investing in renewable energy for data centers.
Sustainable digital waste management is most effective when EPR, product stewardship, and the circular economy are combined as EPR encourages manufacturers to design for reusability and recyclability throughout their product lifecycle, product stewardship promotes responsible use of digital products, and the circular economy optimizes resource usage by extending software and hardware lifespans.
Environmental Benefits of EPR in Nigeria
The application of Extended Producer Responsibility within Nigeria’s digital waste management framework yields several key environmental advantages:
These include resource conservation through recycling and component reuse, reduced landfill waste due to EPR initiatives, and reduced use of hazardous materials in digital products, as mandated by the law.
Environmental Impact of Product Stewardship in Nigeria
The implementation of Product Stewardship practices in Nigeria will enhance environmental sustainability in various ways:
It will educate consumers about the environmental impact of digital products, encourages energy efficient usage, and encourage environmentally conscious product design, all part of Nigeria’s commitment to eco-friendly product lifecycles.
Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria
The principles of the circular economy, when applied to Nigeria’s digital waste management landscape, offer significant environmental benefits:
The circular economy in ia will promote extended product life, resource efficiency, and lower carbon emissions through product repair, refurbishment, and upgrade, ensuring digital products remain in use for extended periods and reducing waste.
To properly address this situation, Nigeria must implement proactive measures like Product Stewardship, Extended Producer Responsibility, and the Circular Economy.
