Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management in Port Harcourt, an oil-producing city in Nigeria, has become an environmental challenge for the location. WEEE recycling is predominantly managed by informal recyclers, who lack the skills to perform risk-free recycling, hence raising health risks to individuals in associated communities and degrading the environment. Formal recycling, which embraces the best practices for effective WEEE management, is faced with several limitations, such as a lack of detailed guidelines on waste recycling, reuse, and final disposal techniques, with no opportunities for landfilling. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Data were gathered via questionnaires and analysed graphically. A background literature review of the assessment of informal recycling methods and associated challenges was performed. Hence, a new concept for the local management of WEEE processing was introduced. This concept limits the role of informal recyclers to WEEE collection. In this case, informal recyclers are paid for WEEE collection; they no longer engage in further WEEE processing. The results show that 48% and 40% agree to partner and collaborate with government agencies, respectively. Conversely, 52% and 40% agree and strongly agree, respectively, to limit their activities to WEEE collection only if the government is willing to pay for the services.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment has become a thing of great challenge in the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and globally. Informal recyclers appear to be the key actors in this recycling sector in the location, but they lack the right skills and knowledge. This study sheds light on the consequences of informal recycling in the mobile telephone network phone village at Rumukurushi (a location believed to accommodate about 30 informal recyclers) in Port Harcourt. The level of education, health, and safety awareness of the informal recyclers, their willingness to obey government guidelines, and their knowledge of waste electrical and electronic equipment management were investigated. Data collection was achieved with the help of questionnaires and the analysis was done graphically. The outcome of the questionnaires administered to twenty-five (25) participants shows that the informal recyclers are more conversant with their primitive style of practice. They lack knowledge and awareness on waste electrical and electronic equipment management best practices. Other findings include the informal recyclers' lack of awareness on the use of personal protective equipment and the application of health and safety in the discharge of their duties. They are willing to obey government guidelines on waste electrical and electronic equipment management. Informal recyclers are willing to quit other waste electrical and electronic equipment management processes if they can be paid by the government for gathering them. The study recommends that the activities of the informal recyclers should be restricted to gathering only.

Informal recycling has been a source of challenges to a mobile telephone network (MTN) phone village in Rumukurushi, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and several locations in developing countries. In order to bring a lasting solution to the menace of informal recycling in this location, the study proposed a new waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management system. The system comprises the application of two key concepts. The first concept includes limiting the activities of informal recyclers to WEEE collection only. This implies WEEE treatment, dismantling, etc., are carried out by government-approved agencies and experts. The second concept involves the application of the just-in-time (JIT) management concept for managing WEEE. The concept ensures that WEEE is only requested from the recycler or the individuals in possession of it and only on demand. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. Data collection and analysis were achieved via semi-structured phone interviews and thematic analysis, respectively. The outcome of the study limits the activities of the informal recyclers to WEEE collection. Informal recyclers gain revenue from collection. A reduction in the waiting time of workers and WEEE storage space is achieved. This offers safety, efficiency, and an increased productivity. This will help to revolutionise the WEEE management system in the location.