Toxic trash exported to Africa

A new investigation by toxic trade watchdog

(BAN), has revealed that large quantities of obsolete electronic equipment exported from the USA and Europe to Lagos, Nigeria for ‘re-use and repair’ are ending up gathering dust in warehouses or being dumped and burned.

The report entitled “The Digital Dump: Exporting High-Tech Re-use and Abuse to Africa,” exposes what is thought to be an escalating global trade in toxic, obsolete, discarded computers and other e-scrap collected in North America and Europe and sent to developing countries by waste brokers and so-called recyclers.

In Lagos, while there is a legitimate market and ability to repair and refurbish old electronic equipment including computers, monitors, TVs and cell phones, the local experts complain that of the estimated 500 40-foot containers shipped to Lagos each month, as much as 75% of the imports are “junk” and are not economically repairable or marketable.

Consequently, this e-waste, which is legally a hazardous waste is being discarded and routinely burned.