If it's NOT NEW, it's NOT NEW

Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics. All electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are all "E-WASTE". If it's NOT NEW, it's NOT NEW!

The big, glassy funnels inside these machines are known as cathode ray tubes or CRTs which were melted down and turned into new ones. Cathode Ray Tube." But flat-screen technology has made those monitors and televisions obsolete, reducing the demand for the recycled tube glass used in them and creating stockpiles of the useless material accumulate across the country. Now everyone has abandoned the machines with CRTs, without proper disposal. These stockpiles of glass contains lead. Cathode ray tubes have been largely replaced by flat panels that use fluorescent lights with highly toxic mercury in them. The Plastics from

printers, keyboards, monitors, etc -- emits brominated dioxins, heavy metals and hydrocarbons.

The government of Nigeria through NESREA has done well and should be encouraged in the fight against illegal dumping of these waste in Nigeria because it affects us all. Nigeria as a dumping ground for these harmful waste materials does not do us any good. The activities of importing toxic waste into Nigeria should be condemned in the strongest terms and the offenders/defaulters should be punished appropriately. Most used machines are not tested for functionality before they are exported to Nigeria.

One solution to the growing electronic waste problem is for technology companies to design products that last longer, use fewer toxic components and are more easily recycled. By reducing both the quantity of hazardous materials used in the process and the amount of excess raw materials in stock, the quantity of waste generated can be reduced. Properly disposing or reusing electronics can help prevent health problems, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Let me end with this - How do all these E-waste escape from Europe and America to Nigeria? That is to show how porous the seaports have become over there....

NB: if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.