International Journal of Applied Psychology 2014, 4(4): 147-154 DOI: 10.5923/j.ijap.20140404.03 Mobile Phone Usage and Battery Disposal in Lagos, Nigeria O. A. Babatunde * , C. A. Eguma, B. T. Oyeledun, O. C. Igwilo, O. G. Awosanya, O. Adegbenro National Centre for Energy Efficiency & Conservation (Energy Commission of Nigeria), University of Lagos, Nigeria Abstract Since the advent of mobile telecommunication services into Nigeria in 2001, profound increase in the consumer’s electronic market for mobile phones has been continually witnessed. However, this remarkable progress has resulted in the generation of large quantities of e-waste. This paper studies mobile phone usage behaviours and battery disposal among Nigerians. Certain hypotheses are formulated highlighting variables like sex, age, occupation, level of education, responsibility to the environment, knowledge of the respondents towards proper waste disposal and their relationships with mobile phone usage behaviour, and the intention for proper mobile battery disposal are tested. Results show that mobile phone users with higher levels of education have better mobile phone usage behaviours than those with lower levels of education. Also, majority dispose their phone battery indiscriminately which is an indication that there is no proper regulation on battery disposal. Moreover, relationship exists between occupation and the intention for proper battery disposal with corporate workers having the highest percentage of respondents willing to recycle used batteries without compensation for the act. Based on the outcome of the study, the need for consumer awareness, domestication of international conventions or enactment of local legislation to deal with the e-wastes, and the provision of infrastructure for the collection and processing of the wastes generated are recommended. Keywords Mobile phone usage behaviour, Battery disposal, Electronic wastes, Waste disposal behaviour, Environment 1. Introduction Mobile phones have become an indispensable accessory in the daily affairs of many Nigerians. This device pervades open stalls and electronic malls scattered across major cities and urban centers in the country. Taking a cursory look at the activities of street vendors, electronic merchants and retailers within the electronic consumer market in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most populated metropolises with over nine million inhabitants [1], reveals a market replete with various brands of mobile phones and assortment of accessories. These branded phones come in different models and a variety of form factors. They include: flip-phones, candy bars, slider phones and swivel phones. Sanou [2] estimated that there were 6.8 billion mobile cellular subscriptions around the world, most of which could be found in developing countries. Nigeria is Africa’s largest mobile market with more than 110 million subscribers. Until August 2001, Nigeria had the lowest Tele-density rate in the world. However, following the liberalization of the Telecom sector in 2001 when GSM services were rolled out in the country, total Tele-density * Corresponding author: boribabatunde@gmail.com (O. A. Babatunde) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ijap Copyright © 2014 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved was at 0.4% with a total of 400,000 subscriptions in fixed lines and mobile lines. As at 2013, the country’s total number of subscriptions for fixed lines and mobile lines was put at 117 million with a Tele-density of 83%, and it is expected to reach 98% by 2015 [2]. The rise in number of mobile phone subscribers has been exponential and phenomenal. As a result, the country is identified as being one of the fastest growing Telecom markets in the world. Nigeria’s large population and business-friendly legal and regulatory environment has been cited as one of the key factors contributing to the growth and investment in her telecommunication sector [3]. Owing to its burgeoning telecommunications industry and increasing mobile phones ownership, the country continues to witness a proliferation of various mobile phone models cutting across several product manufacturers in Europe and Asia. Large quantities of mobile phones and accessories including second-hand and remanufactured products are being imported to satisfy the growing demand. These products continue to flood the shelves of telecommunication products’ distributors and resellers across the country. Any keen observer on a visit to the popular computer village in Lagos will attest to this. Researchers posited that the phenomenal progress in information technology and mobile telecommunication uptake has resulted in the generation of large quantities of electronic waste (e-waste) in the country [4]. Another factor that contributed to augmented e-waste production was the