Partnership to address illegal and quasi-legal exports of to-be-recycled electronics to Africa

Despite 40 years of EU recycling policies, leakage, or illegal transport of European waste to lower income countries with less strict recycling regulation still takes place. It has significant health and ecological impacts, and is largely ignored in European circular economy discourse. To tackle this, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and the University of Ibadan in Nigeria are launching a partnership that will address illegal and quasi-legal exports of to-be-recycled electronics to Africa.

Used computer make their way to Computer Village in Lagos. Photo: Kaustubh Thapa

71,000 tons of used electrical and electronic equipment ends up in Nigeria each year. 77% of this comes from the European Union, with a significant proportion of this leakage originating in the Netherlands.  

Leakage of waste to low-income countries

In the Netherlands, e-waste must be properly recycled through the various Dutch and European Extended Producer Responsibility mechanisms. Despite this, there is leakage, or illegal transport of waste to lower income countries with less strict waste management regulation.

Collecting and cleaning plastic waste for further processing at Wecyclers in Lagos.

Current discourse ignores leakage

The current discourse about the circular economy largely ignores these leakages to low income countries, where health and ecological impacts of this ‘blind spot’ in European waste policies are dramatic.

Partnership with the University of Ibadan in Nigeria

The partnership was launched during the 10th International Sustainable Development Summit, organized by the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of  Ibadan in Nigeria. Here, Dr. Walter Vermeulen and PhD researcher Kaustubh Thapa presented plans together with Dr. Olawale Olayide for transdisciplinary research on the waste leakages from EU-countries to African countries. The work will form part of a work-package I of EU- funded project CRESTING.

The first field inspections and meetings with researchers, government agencies and civil society organizations were fruitful in preparing for detailed waste flow analysis and future capacity building activities.