The Nigeria Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) on Monday, March 18, 2019 said it would intensify campaign on proper waste management particularly, the electronic waste (e-waste) for a greener and safer environment.
Chairperson of NIEE, Mrs Abiola Kosegbe, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the sideline of the facility tour of Eterra on e-waste management.
NIEE is an institution that caters for the development of professionals interested in the development of the environment.
E-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are also considered e-waste.
Kosegbe said that, as professional engineers on environment, there was need to promote greener and cleaner environment and bring to lime light, facilities that would promote such, hence the visit.
She said that the institution became interested and initiated the visit when having heard about the facility.
She added that NIEE was interested in partnering with Eterra to assist it in promoting cleaner and safer environment.
Kosegbe commended the company for a first-class work on management of e-waste, saying e-waste was one of the very difficult wastes to manage.
According to her, there is mismanagement of e-waste in this part of the world where people import and use lots of used electronic waste, only to mismanage them.
“So, as it is now, our interest is to bring Eterra to the limelight, so that people are aware that these facilities are available to manage the e-waste.
This is in accordance to the internationally accepted standard.
“The issue of waste has been ongoing for a long time; the Lagos state government has developed and put in place policies toward the management of e-waste.
“Even the management of the normal waste is still an issue but with such facility and awareness, there will be proper management of e-waste.
“So, as an institution, we will continue to create awareness and enlighten the people on proper management of e-waste,” she said.
According to Kosegbe, the campaign and enlightenment are necessary because e-waste is monstrous in nature and hazardous to human health.
“Hence, the campaign of proper management of waste in general and e-waste in particular for a cleaner, safer and eco friendly environment is encouraged, “she said.
By Stellamaris Ashinze
