NESREA lauds conviction of US executives for e-waste exportation

According to a statement issued by the agency, the two executives of a U.S.-based recycling company, Executive Recycling Inc, Messrs Tor Olson and Brandon Richter, were handed 14 months and 30 months’ jail terms, respectively, by U.S. District Court Judge William Martinez for the act.The statement said that the Director-General of NESREA, Dr Ngeri Benebo, […]

According to a statement issued by the agency, the two executives of a U.S.-based recycling company, Executive Recycling Inc, Messrs Tor Olson and Brandon Richter, were handed 14 months and 30 months’ jail terms, respectively, by U.S. District Court Judge William Martinez for the act.
The statement said that the Director-General of NESREA, Dr Ngeri Benebo, described the two convictions as a welcome development which “further strengthens punitive measures against defaulters and will serve as warning to other exporters of e-wastes”.
Benebo also warned that unscrupulous businessmen who bring e-waste into the country would be made to face the same music, stressing that the agency was determined to prosecute anyone found to be engaged in e-waste importation.
 She urged importers of used electrical/electronic equipment to ensure that they were duly registered with the agency and that they adhered to the guidelines on importation of used electrical/electronic equipment into Nigeria.
“Before now, Nigeria was a safe haven for importers of e-waste who brought in containers loaded with end-of-life obsolete electrical/ electronics products into the country.
“With the advent of NESREA, however, e-waste import has been brought to almost zero level in the country, through the enforcement of the National Environmental (Electrical/Electronic Sector) Regulations, 2011; no fewer than 15 vessels have been impounded for importing e-waste.
“Such vessels had been made to return their offensive cargo to their ports of origin and many litigations on e-waste importation into the country are still on-going in various courts.
“And a vessel was made to post a bond of 500,000 dollars before it was allowed to sail back with the e-waste it had brought into the country,’’ the statement said.
The statement quoted Benebo as saying that NESREA had held workshops and seminars to enlighten importers and the general public on the negative effects of e-waste on human life and the environment.
 “It is known that electrical/electronic products contain heavy metal which at the end of life of the product become toxic and are implicated in many chronic illnesses and environment related problems,’’ it added. (NAN)