Abstract

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The rapid turnover in technology in developed and developing countries like Nigeria, has created a new environmental problem in electronic waste (e-waste) management due to high obsolesce rate of consumption. Households are one of the major consumers of electronic equipment and consequently the major sources of electronic wastes (e-waste). In this study, an assessment of the sources, types, lifespan, and the end-of-life management options of electronic equipment acquired by households in three cities in Nigeria (Lagos metropolis, Kaduna metropolis and FCT Abuja) have been studied and compared. Also, a census of the number of out-of-use electronics currently in the households was carried out. The results of the study revealed that both new and used (secondhand) electronic equipments are acquired in households in the study areas. The study also showed that the average lifespan of desktop computers, laptop computers, printers, mobile phones is 2.5-3.5 years, while televisions have lifespan of 3.5-5.5 years. Mobile phones and televisions had the highest average penetration rates of 4.88 and 1.96 respectively while printers had the least penetration rate of 0.6. The most preferred end-of-life options for e-wastes in the study areas were storage and sales, which indicates that users still value their equipment at its end-of-life. The study recommended appropriate e-waste management strategies such as establishment of e-waste collection centers and awareness creation in the households on the need for proper e-wastes disposal.

Keywords: e-waste, household, electronic equipment, penetration rate, end-of-life