Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of E-Waste Workers in Owode-Onirin Scrap Market, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Electronic devices have become essential to our existence leading to an increase in the rate of electronic waste (E-waste) generation and  environmental degradation. This study evaluates the knowledge, attitude and prevailing practices of e-waste workers at the Owode-Orinin scrap market in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos Nigeria using 241 Questionnaires to obtain data which were analysed by Pearson correlation  coefficient. The knowledge of the respondents was limited to the financial and economic value attached to E-waste meanwhile the environmental and health impact of their occupation were not known, neglected or considered unimportant. A positive relationship was established between education, knowledge and attitude of the respondents. This indicates that increase in education brings about increase in the knowledge and results in positive attitude of the E-waste workers. The strong social tie found to exist among the E-waste workers can be leveraged upon for the transmission of the knowledge about the environmental health impact of their occupation so as to conduct their activities in the safest manner possible.

Keywords: E-waste, occupational health, environment, knowledge, attitudes, practices