The Lagos State Government has teamed up with a company from the Netherlands to help solve its electronic waste problem by setting up a Smelter Plant in Lagos.
This collaboration was made official during a signing ceremony that took place in Alausa on Friday.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, signed the agreement on behalf of Lagos State and shared how this initiative could economically benefit everyone.
Wahab explained that the new smelter plant would create more jobs. It would also turn e-waste, like old phones and computers, into useful products, creating a new area of business.
The Partnership
Wahab pointed out that Michel Deleen, the Netherlands’ Consul-General, attended the event, showing strong support for the company’s abilities. He noted that Lagos is doing a great job managing e-waste compared to other places.
Wahab mentioned that Lagos produces around 13,000 tons of waste every day, and a big part of this is electronic waste.
He explained that many people don’t know how to dispose of their old electronic items properly, which increases pollution risks.
Improper e-waste disposal can harm the environment, so this initiative is very important for Lagos’s ecological health.
“You are the ones paying the tax, so the government provides infrastructure from the taxes you pay.”
“As good citizens, you must always speak up when necessary,” Wahab stated.
“We must take care of our environment,” Wahab stressed.
“Throwing waste into drainage systems not only blocks our infrastructure but also harms the environment. As responsible citizens, we must report and prevent such actions.”
Special Adviser on Environment, Rotimi Akodu, shared his hopes about working with Close the Loop BV.
He said the Lagos team is dedicated to managing e-waste effectively, turning trash into treasure.
“We have a lot of waste, and we weren’t sure what to do with it. But now is the time. We’re converting waste into wealth. We just signed deals to turn waste into energy, and now we’re dealing with electronic waste. This is something we’re excited to bring to Lagos,” Akodu said.
This partnership aims to transform waste by extracting valuable materials from e-waste.
Ingrid Thijssen, President of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, expressed excitement about the collaboration and expects significant benefits for both sides.
What You Should Know
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a growing problem everywhere, and Lagos is no different.
E-waste includes discarded electronic items like old computers, smartphones, and TVs.
- These items often contain harmful materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can seriously damage the environment and health if not disposed of properly.
- Lagos faces a rising e-waste issue due to fast technology growth and more people using electronic devices.
- Many Lagos residents don’t know how to correctly get rid of their e-waste, leading to random dumping and pollution.
- The city’s poor waste management system makes things worse, with e-waste often ending up in landfills, waterways, and drainage systems.
- The new smelter plant will help Lagos manage e-waste better by turning it into valuable materials, reducing environmental pollution.