Regional workshop on enhancing capacities for the environmentally sound management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (e-waste) through the regional delivery in Africa

Venue: Conference Centre: Golden Tulip HotelAddress: Amuwo Odofin - mile 2, P.M.B 031, Lagos, NigeriaTelephone: +234 1 2792980Fax: +234 12792981website: http://www.goldentulip.com/en/hotels/golden-tulip-festac-lagosBackground: Waste electrical and electronic equipment (e-waste) is categorized as hazardous waste due to the presence of toxic materials such as mercury, lead and brominated flame retardants which are considered as hazardous wastes according to the Basel Convention. E-waste may also contain precious metals such as gold, copper and nickel and rare materials of strategic value such as indium and palladium. These precious and heavy metals can be recovered, recycled and used as valuable source of secondary raw materials. It has been documented that e-waste is imported to developing countries where they are often not managed in an environmentally sound manner, thus posing a serious threat to both human health and the environment.The e-waste related work of the Secretariat include regional and national activities in Africa, in Asia-Pacific and in South America; the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) and technical guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention.Organizers: The workshop was organized by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in cooperation with the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region in Nigeria. The European Union, PACE, and the African Union kindly provided funding for the workshop.Working Language(s): English