Moving Forward Sustainably: Material and Social Conditions of Electronic Waste Management in ...

141 Pages·2017·7.18 MB·English

by  Omokaro, Benedicta Ideho

JYVÄSKYLÄ STUDIES IN EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
608
Benedicta Ideho Omokaro
Moving Forward Sustainably
Material and Social Conditions of
Electronic Waste Management in Nigeria
JYVÄSKYLÄ STUDIES IN EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH 608
Benedicta Ideho Omokaro
Moving Forward Sustainably
Material and Social Conditions of
Electronic Waste Management in Nigeria
Esitetään Jyväskylän yliopiston humanistis-yhteiskuntatieteellisen tiedekunnan suostumuksella
julkisesti tarkastettavaksi yliopiston päärakennuksen salissa C4
maaliskuun 24. päivänä 2018 kello 12.
Academic dissertation to be publicly discussed, by permission of
the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä,
in the Main building, hall C4, on March 24, 2018 at 12 o’clock noon.
UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
JYVÄSKYLÄ 2018
Moving Forward Sustainably
Material and Social Conditions of
Electronic Waste Management in Nigeria
JYVÄSKYLÄ STUDIES IN EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH 608
Benedicta Ideho Omokaro
Moving Forward Sustainably
Material and Social Conditions of
Electronic Waste Management in Nigeria
UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
JYVÄSKYLÄ 2018
Editors
Olli-Pekka Moisio
Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä
Pekka Olsbo, Ville Korkiakangas
Publishing Unit, University Library of Jyväskylä
Permanent link to this publication: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7354-4
URN:ISBN:978-951-39-7354-4
ISBN 978-951-39-7354-4 (PDF)
ISBN 978-951-39-7353-7 (nid.)
ISSN 0075-4625
Copyright © 2018, by University of Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä University Printing House, Jyväskylä 2018
(cid:3)
ABSTRACT
Omokaro, Benedicta Ideho
Moving Forward Sustainably: Material and Social Conditions of Electronic
Waste Management in Nigeria
Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2018, 73 p.
(Jyväskylä Studies in Education, Psychology and Social Research
ISSN 0075-4625; 608)
ISBN 978-951-39-7353-7 (nid.)
ISBN 978-951-39-7354-4 (PDF)
This dissertation focuses on understanding the social material interaction
between e-waste and e-scrappers for sustainable management of e-waste.
Previous studies mainly concentrate on the detrimental environmental impact of
e-scrappers activities, the economic and political influences of e-waste on the e-
scrappers, the material flow of e-waste and the exportation of valuable e-waste
extracts from highly industrialized countries to less industrialized countries. The
aim of the dissertation is therefore to extend the scope of the previous studies by
investigating the social material interaction between e-scrappers and e-waste. To
achieve this aim, this study examines the following research questions: 1) How
has e-waste gained recognition and remained relevant in both government and
private spheres? 2) Through what material and social mechanisms has e-
scrappers thrived despite the negative environmental perception of their
activities? Environmental perception, as used in this dissertation, indicates the
perceived impacts of the activities of e-scrappers on their environment.
Qualitative data sets attained via ethnographic video method from 29 e-scrappers
from two states in Nigeria are analyzed and used to meet the main objective of
this dissertation. This dissertation consists of a summary and results presented in
four separate articles. The results reveal that far from the notion that e-scrapping
is carried out by illiterate, poor marginalized groups, e-scrappers in Nigeria
possess a certain level of formal institutional education and professionalism that
becomes evident during the e-scrapping process. Additionally, the informal
learning and organization achieved via models such as the apprenticeship system
provide social recognition among members of society and relevant government
institutions. It therefore implies that Nigerian e-scrappers possess a level of
intellectual engagement that could be recognized and actively utilized by local
environmental agencies and other government institutions. The main policy
implication of this dissertation is that in order to move forward sustainably in the
management of e-waste in Nigeria, organized activities of e-scrappers ought to be
seen as formal activities. As such, standardization of proper basic infrastructure
that limits negative environmental pollution and promotes acquired recycling
skills should be engrained in environmental policies and provided for the e-
scrappers.
Keywords: e-scrappers, e-waste, Nigeria, e-waste management, informal
recycling.
Author’s address Benedicta Ideho Omokaro
Department of Social Science and Philosophy
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Jyväskylä
[email protected]

Supervisors Dr. Sakari Taipale
Department of Social Science and Philosophy
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Jyväskylä

Prof. Marja Järvelä
Department of Social Science and Philosophy
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Jyväskylä

Reviewers Dr. Marja Vehviläinen
University of Tampere

Dr. Sarah A. Moore
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Opponent Dr. Jennie Olofsson
Senior Lecturer
University of Ljublana
Mid Sweden University
(cid:3)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Limitations are abstract boundaries enhanced by our imaginations and
immediate environment.
These words rang constantly in my head as I embarked on this interesting jour-
ney of studying Nigerian e-scrappers in e-waste management. In the field, I en-
countered individuals, who despite the environmental, political and social chal-
lenges they encountered, rose above their limitations. Through their recycling
activities, they have forced us to acknowledge the materiality of e-waste and
our disposal habits. For this and many more reasons, I acknowledge the e-
scrappers who shared their knowledge with me and granted me permission to
tell their stories in a different light and bring a different insight into the world
of e-waste management.
Discussing the activities of the Nigerian e-scrappers in the academic
sphere required the expert supervision of my wonderful supervisors Dr. Sakari
Taipale and Professor Marja Järvelä. Thanks for being the best supervisors and
mentors I could have asked for. In more ways than one, you have made me a
better academic writer and researcher. I appreciate you both beyond words.
As it is often said in a Nigerian adage, it takes a village to accomplish a task
worthy of praise. This doctoral journey has been greatly impacted by some
spectacular persons. To mention only a few will be doing a disservice to others.
Therefore, I say thanks to all my friends and colleagues, you know who you are.
Specifically, thanks for listening to my ramblings about e-waste; for smiling
even when it becomes boring and for encouraging me to put my ideas in ink.
To my family, you know how much you mean to me. Thank you for being
a continuous pillar of support. To my husband, you are continuously a source
of love and inspiration. Thanks for bringing out the best in me. Above all, my
praise and gratitude to Jehovah the Almighty God. The giver of life and source
of my strength. Through this journey, You have graced my footsteps and fa-
voured me and my household immensely. Thank you.
Jyväskylä 31.01.2018
Benedicta Ideho Omokaro
LIST OF ORIGINAL PAPERS
1. Omokaro, Ideho, B. 2017. The Issuefication and Assemblage of Things in
E-waste Management: A Methodological Approach.
Submitted for publication and under review at the Journal of Sociological
Forum
2. Omokaro Ideho, B. 2016. Building Capabilities among E-scrappers in In-
formal Electronic Waste Management: The case of the Nigerian E-
scrappers.
Environmental Sociology Journal, 2325-1042.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23251042.2016.1155791
doi:10.1080/23251042.2016.1155791
3. Omokaro I. B. & Taipale S. 2017. Into the World of E-Waste: Mobility
among E-Scrappers in Nigeria.
Journal of Applied Mobilities,
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23800127.2017.1329974
doi:10.1080/23800127.2017.1329974
4. Omokaro, Ideho, B. 2017. Revisiting Informal Recyclers: Understanding
the Organizational and Operational Paradigm of Nigerian E-scrappers.
Submitted for publication and under review at Journal of Current Soci-
ology
(cid:3)
FIGURES
Figure 1 Wilson’s four categories of informal recycling (Source: Wilson,
2001). ........................................................................................................... 21
Figure 2 Interplay of assemblage of things and issuefication of things.
(Source: Omokaro 2017) ........................................................................... 25
Figure 3 Distribution of interviews by location (Source: Omokaro) ................ 42
Figure 4 Coding footage in MAXQDA (Source: Omokaro) ............................... 44
Figure 5 Snapshot of overall dissertation (Source: Omokaro) ........................... 47
Figure 6 Social network of e-scrappers in Nigeria (Source: Omokaro,
2016) ............................................................................................................ 50
Figure 7 Systematic extraction of motherboard from a DVD device
(Source: Omokaro) .................................................................................... 51
Figure 8 Smashing extraction process (Source: Omokaro) ................................. 51
Figure 9 A network model showing the organizational structure of
e-scrappers in Nigeria (Omokaro, 2017) ................................................ 54
Figure 10 Proposed operational framework (Omokaro, 2017) ............................ 56
TABLES
Table 1 Data collection and analysis .................................................................... 39