Perceptual Assessment of Extended Producer Responsibility for Management of Electronic Waste Waste in IlorinMetropolis, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) generation and its unsustainable management are major problems in in Nigeria. Objectives of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy launched in 2016 in Nigeria include promoting the knowledge of e-waste and its environmental hazards and, encouraging formal recycling among the people. This study reports knowledge of ewaste environmental hazards, information channels, and factors influencing the acquisition of knowledge on e-waste hazards among households in Ilorin metropolis. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect and analyze data. The study involved a sample of 600 households for questionnaire administration and, 30 households for in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Binomial Logistic regression. In-depth interview data were analyzed using content analysis method. Findings revealed that only 28.5% of the respondents reported being knowledgeable about e-waste hazards. Sources of knowledge on e-waste hazards were interpersonal information and knowledge sharing (47.8%) and electronic products handling/safety brochures (15.4%). Furthermore, Binomial Logistic regression analysis signified that important factors that influenced the acquisition of knowledge on e-waste hazards among the study respondents (at P≤0.01) were gender, education, household headship type, and sector of employment of household heads. In sum, the level of awareness on e-waste hazards is low in the study community. The study recommends public awareness and sensitization strategies on e-waste hazards and, the mainstreaming of the subject matter of e-waste in the basic science and computer studies curricula at the Elementary and Junior Secondary School levels in the study community and at the national level in Nigeria.