The Lagos State Government has partnered with Netherlands-backed company, Close the Loop BV, to establish a smelter plant, aiming to convert electronic waste (e-waste) into energy and wealth.
The signing ceremony, held at Alausa, Lagos, featured Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, who signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on behalf of the State Government with the Dutch company for the establishment of the smelter plant in Lagos.
During the signing ceremony, Wahab emphasised that the establishment of the smelter plant will not only create new jobs but also lead to the creation of a new economy by converting e-waste into valuable products. He highlighted the importance of addressing e-waste and commended Mr. Michel Deleen, Consul-General of the Netherlands for showing confidence in the capabilities of the company, Close the Loop BV.
Lagos generates about 13000 tons of waste daily, the Commissioner said, explaining that “many people do not have the proper awareness on how to dispose of either their electronic products or the waste from e-products so the risk of pollution becomes more manifest, stressing that the improper management of e-waste can affect the environment negatively.”
Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources,
Amid rising e-waste, Lagos generates 13000 tons of waste daily, Commissioner says
Lagos generates about 13000 tons of waste daily, the Commissioner said, explaining that “many people do not have the proper awareness on how to dispose of either their electronic products or the waste from e-products so the risk of pollution becomes more manifest, stressing that the improper management of e-waste can affect the environment negatively.”
The Netherlands Consul-General in Nigeria, commended the proactive nature of the Lagos Government, citing the recent heavy rainfall and subsequent flash flood that quickly dissipated. In his words, “the truth is most developed countries with infrastructure in place still experience flash floods when it rains incessantly.”
Deleen expressed the Netherlands Government’s commitment to collaborating with Lagos to transform waste into valuable resources, emphasising the importance of the Letter of Intent (LOI) signing as a crucial step in addressing this global issue.
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified e-waste as hazardous due to its toxic materials and potential to produce harmful chemicals if not handled properly.
Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. This waste contains valuable metals that can be recovered through recycling, reducing the need for new metal production and minimizing landfill disposal.
A smelting plant is a facility where metals are extracted from their ores through smelting- a process involving heating the ore to a high temperature in the presence of a reducing agent to remove impurities and extract the metal.
About Close the Loop BV
Close the Loop, founded by Joost De Kluijver, aims to promote sustainable consumption by assisting tech users and sellers worldwide in reducing waste. Their waste compensation service offers a practical, positive, and value-driven approach to making electronics waste-neutral, particularly phones and laptops.
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