International Journal of Law

Authors
Babatunde Isaac Olutoyin

Abstract
When people make use of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), after a while, newer technologies arise that make the old ones become technologically archaic thereafter, due to continuous development of newer models. The problem then arises regarding where to keep the old ones. Many of the obsolete equipment either find their ways into developing countries with information technology deficiency or become crushed as recycled newer models of the old electronic equipment. The former consequence of electrical equipment disposal, (E-Waste or Waste EEE) and how it poses severe health and environmental hazards to human lives, plants, livestock, ecology and the ecosystem in the absence of regulation, enforcement and proper management or even constituting severe infraction of human rights of residents in the environment is therefore the focus of this work. This paper therefore examines the delineation of electronic waste, reiterates the national and international issues relating to E-Waste, itemises the sources of E-Waste, the consequences of the indiscriminate dumping of E-Waste and identifies the E-waste management challenges, the components and the dangers of dumping hazardous electronic waste in the environment. It goes further to discuss the alternative mechanisms for managing E-Waste both nationally and internationally and the legal imperatives and frameworks for the prevention and management of E-waste. This paper concludes by making a set of scientific and legal recommendations for the treatment, prevention of dumping and control management of E-Waste in Nigeria with a view to reducing the deleterious consequences of E-waste disposal in the environment.