What is Electronic waste?

Electronic  waste, or e-waste, as we all know it, is a term for electronic products that have become unwanted, non-working or obsolete, and have essentially reached the end of their useful life.

As technology advances at such a high rate, many electronic devices become “trash” after a few short years of use. In fact, whole categories of old electronic items contribute to e-waste, such as VCRs being replaced by DVD players, and DVD players being replaced by blue-ray players.

E-waste is created from anything electronic: computers, refrigerators, TVs, monitors, cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, etc.

Obsolete electronic devices are rapidly filling the landfills around the globe. In the US alone, more than 100 million computers are thrown away with less than 20% being recycled properly. However, over the years, electronics have not been recycled in West Africa or Africa at large.

While there is a union called “The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling” representing US companies that believe electronics recycling should be performed securely and sustainably and a “European Electronics Recyclers Association”, electronic waste has been completely neglected in West Africa. There are only about one or two recycling companies in South Africa.

Broken: Defunct televisions, computers and keyboards (pictured) are transported to west-African countries like Ghana and Nigeria because ‘it is cheaper than recycling it properly in European Union nations’

In fact, the European Commission and UN studies show that West Africa is becoming a dumping site for e-waste from various parts of the world. Meanwhile, Ericsson a communication technology and services firm, says West Africa is becoming highly affected by e-waste, when compared to other regions on the continent. As measures by countries in East and Southern Africa are taking effect to prevent the dumping of e-waste, West Africa has become a destination for old computers, mobile devices, and components.

E-Terra Technologies to the rescue?

However, E-Terra Technologies Limited, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in Lagos, Nigeria have come to West Africa’s aid. The company’s key region of strength in the eco-friendly management of e-waste is their ability of utilizing incorporated state-of-the-art technologies. They may very well be the company that spares West Africa from the paws of electronic waste and the harms it has posed to lives throughout the years. They are  pioneers in the eco-friendly administration of electronic waste (e-waste); recycling, revamping, and data destruction in storage gadgets in agreement with the worldwide vision of a greener planet.

E-Terra Technologies Limited located somewhere in West Africa

What does E-Terra Technologies do?

• E-Terra Technologies Limited is an eco-friendly company.
• They offer e-waste collection and disposal services targeting environmentally friendly organizations seeking to dispose of their unwanted end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment. They have a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Lagos, Nigeria where they perform pre-assessment, pick up, destruction, sorting, and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) .
• Their administration requires execution of a commonly valuable concurrence with the accompanying assurance: advantageous and viable intentions to arrange individual or business esque; universal best-practices in ecological supportability; genuine feelings of serenity for individuals and businesses; insurance of eco-friendly authentication of consistence; and great association with neighborhood and worldwide natural administrative organizations, resulting in advantages and positive effects on brand value.
• E-Terra Technologies Limited is also dedicated to protecting humans from health risks as a result of e-waste disposal and also preventing hackers from identity theft in the aftermath of improper disposal of unwanted computers. It is very commendable that they are the first company to do so.
• The organization is additionally into IT Resource Decommissioning, an administration rendered with little business disturbance for methodically resigning obsolete IT resources. They bolster their customer’s corporate social obligation activities by renovating close end-of-life electronic gadgets; for instance, tablet and desktop PCs, servers, and more for re-use by customers, or as gifts to staff and foundations as a feature of their corporate social duty.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

E-Terra Technologies Limited is also the first to acquire a machine for recycling old televisions to prevent hazard in landfills. In January 2017, a cathode ray tube (CRT) recycling plant was delivered to the recycling company E-Terra Technologies Limited in Lagos by the company URT Umwelt – und Recyclingtechnik GmbH. After training by the plant manufacturer, approximately 200 cathode ray tubes from TV and computer screens are now treated per day according to the European standard. This ensures the removal of pollutants and proper recycling of the valuable substances.

A Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Recycling Plant    

With E-Terra Technologies Limited targeting financial Institutions, telecom companies, oil & gas organizations, FMCGs, tertiary institutions, aviation, IT Companies; all tiers of Government (Federal, State and Local) and their Parastatals, the Armed Forces, faith-based organizations, E-waste Trade Associations/Cooperatives and residencies, West Africans’ cry for a recycling company seems to be over.