ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND THE FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE LARGEST E-WASTE DUMPSITE IN NIGERIA

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: (Derek) Du, Wenyu; Zeng, Delin
• 署名单位: Beihang University; Beijing Jiaotong University
• 刊物名称: MIS QUARTERLY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0276-7783
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: social inclusion; communication technology; INFORMATION; management; platforms; EVOLUTION; state; work

摘要

Digitalization worldwide has created a surge of e-waste, and a considerable amount of it is shipped from developed to developing countries, where e-waste is mainly handled by the informal recycling sector. This practice creates environmental injustice, a type of social injustice that occurs when a particular social group suffers from disproportionate exposure to environmental risks. However, information systems (IS) research has largely overlooked this social injustice issue and the communities afflicted by e-waste exports. To shed light on this forgotten community, we conducted an in-depth case study at Olusosun, the largest e-waste dumpsite in Nigeria. By analyzing interview data and visual materials, our study unveiled three dimensions of environmental injustice caused by e-waste exports. Based on our findings, we derived three implications for IS design and policymaking: (1) IS should be designed for ewaste recycling monitoring and collaboration; (2) electrical and electronic equipment should be designed for repairability and recyclability; and (3) awareness needs to be raised among users and e-waste workers.