Assessment Of Electronic Waste Management And The Environmental Impact On Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

The development of electrical and electronic industry has led to increase not only in the production of new goods, but also in scraps generation. The rapid movements in electronic industry, e-waste including obsolete and substandard electronic products have become the fastest growing components in the solid waste stream in most Nigerian cities and this waste contained hazardous chemical elements that pose serious environmental threats. The aim of this paper is to assess electronic waste management system and the environmental impacts on Kaduna metropolis. Materials for this study were obtained from structured oral interviews and field observations. Secondary sources of materials were obtained from desk review method. The results of the study showed that e-waste products were generated from the use of electrical equipment such as battery, electrical cables, televisions, cell phones, computer parts and accessories among others. The rate of generation has been exacerbated by increases in population and technological upgrading due to increase in economical well being of Nigerians. The results also showed that the e-wastes are indiscriminately dumped on open spaces in the metropolis. There is also neither characterization of this e-waste non organized recycling, except by local scavengers (yan bolas) that operate backyard recycling by disassembling or open burning of the e-waste to extract materials of immediate values such as cable, plastic, ICs, transistors and metals leaving behind the toxic metals which are potent pollutants. E-wastes are known to contain toxic heavy metals that are linked to major ailments peculiar to humans. The paper therefore recommends strong legislation enforcement on importation of obsolete and substandard electrical and electronic products and a good e-waste handling and recycling strategies that are economical and environmental friendly.