West Africa has been described as the new favorite destination for dumping electronic wastes following serious steps taken in East and Southern Africa, according to the European Commission and U.N.
This development is having serious adverse effects on countries in the region, especially Nigeria, Ghana and Benin. According to Ericsson, West Africa is becoming highly affected by e-waste, relative to other regions on the continent. It said the problem is compounded by the fact that most countries in Africa do not have e-waste recycling facilities. The lack of facilities results in careless disposal of electronic products.
To address this, Ericsson and MTN partnered in Benin to launch the first e-waste collection center and awareness drive in the West African country.
“Ericsson has been partnering with its customers on e-waste collection and the initiative has expanded to include creating awareness about e-waste and helping to ensure that end-of-life material is treated in an environmentally sound manner,’ said Freddrik Jejdling, head of sub-Saharan Africa operations at Ericsson.
“Raising awareness and preventing e-waste from ending up on the streets is part of Ericsson’s social responsibility,” Jejdling said.
In 2013, U.N. noted that the indiscriminate disposal of electronic equipment can cause significant health and environmental risks. E-waste can contain hazardous substances including heavy metals such as lead and mercury, as well as endocrine-disrupting substances such as brominated flame retardants.