‘Integrate Refuse Pickers Into National Waste Management System’

‘Integrate Refuse Pickers Into National Waste Management System’

By Edu Abade

A group of environmental watchdogs and climate crusaders, the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) has canvassed the integration of waste pickers into Nigeria’s waste management system, insisting that they remain crucial to the success of the sector.

The groups stated this during a visit of CODAF’s Zero Waste Parliament (ZWP) to its Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State to deepen understanding of the Multi-Solving Actions for Methane Reduction (MAMRN) project being implemented in the area.

The meeting commenced with a formal introduction of all participants and attendees including the Executive Director of CODAF, Mr. Benin Richard, Speaker of the Zero Waste Parliament and President of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos State (ASWOL), Mr. Friday Oku, General Secretary of ASWOL, Abdulwahab Abdulmumin, Clerk of the ZWP, Victoria Uju Aghaji and other stakeholders in the waste management space.

Also in attendance were school children who had previously engaged with the Zero Waste Ambassadors as part of a sensitization initiative focused on composting and waste segregation. Their presence at the facility allowed them to gain firsthand exposure to the operations of an MRF and the implications of effective waste management.

During the interactive session, Project Assistant at CODAF, Raphael Oniovo, explained a key objective of the MAMRN project, which he said was essentially to advocate for the integration of waste pickers into the formal waste management in Nigeria.

He stated that this will improve their working conditions and enhance the efficiency of their work, adding that CODAF aims to engage relevant governmental agencies so that the concerns of waste pickers can be addressed at both local and state levels.

Further reinforcing this point, Benin stated that CODAF strongly opposes false solutions such as incineration, which adoption will displace waste pickers and undermine their role in the waste value chain, stressing that waste pickers remain a vital segment of the waste management hierarchy and deserve recognition and inclusion in policy-making.

Following the discussion was a tour of the MRF led by Raphael during which Oku engaged in a crucial conversation about the outright ban on carts in Lagos State, while clarifying prevailing misconceptions surrounding the ban, stating, “The ban was not due to allegations of indiscriminate dumping of waste or criminal activities by waste pickers, as often speculated, but it actually arose from commercial disputes between informal waste pickers and operators of the state-backed Private Sector Participants (PSPs).”

The conversation also addressed the occupational hazards faced by waste pickers for which Abdulmumin, recounted multiple incidents involving street, site, residential and waterway waste pickers, many of whom, he said, continue to operate in hazardous and unregulated conditions.
He narrated a sad account from earlier that day, saying, “A picker was severely injured this morning when a truck reversed over his leg at one of our dumpsites. Sadly, incidents like this are not rare as they are part of the daily risks our members face.”

These accounts highlighted the complexity of policy decisions affecting informal waste pickers and emphasized the need for improved working conditions and inclusive stakeholder engagement.

In her closing remarks, Aghaji, expressed commended CODAF for progress so far made in advancing the goal of the MAMRN project, adding, “I am truly impressed with what you have achieved so far. After assessing your progress, I’ve come to the conclusion that you are on the right track and know exactly what you’re doing.”

The visit concluded with a courtesy visit to the Epe Local Government Secretariat where the delegation was warmly welcome by the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman of the LGA, Hon. Tunde Odupe.

Speaking during the meeting, CODAF’s Community Liaison Officer, Alhaja Shabi Aminat, applauded the local government for its support in facilitating the implementation of the MAMRN project in Epe, just as Hon. Odupe commended CODAF for its efforts and assured the organization of the Council’s continued support.