Nigeria Launches Initiative for Safe Battery Disposal

On Monday, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Minister of Environment Balarab Lawal, launched a program focused on the environmentally sound management of waste batteries in Abuja. This initiative aims to collect small batteries, such as those from wristwatches and remote controls, which are often discarded improperly, posing significant health risks to children and women.

The program will establish safety receptacles across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in markets, schools, offices, and motor parks to ensure safe collection and treatment of these batteries. Lawal highlighted the critical gap in the current battery collection and recycling system, noting that many small batteries contain heavy metals like lead and mercury, which can contaminate water sources and harm human health.

The initiative is part of a broader policy developed in 2022 to ensure proper battery management and is supported by the Alliance Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR). Miranda Amechre from ARBR emphasized the importance of addressing the environmental challenges posed by small battery waste in Nigeria.