Demand 07
Waste Management
Waste management practices in Nigeria have a significant impact on the country's climate, with over 32 million MT of annual waste generation, waste management accounts for 5% of global greenhouse gases.²⁵
Poor waste management releases greenhouse gasses, such as methane and carbon dioxide, from decomposing waste in landfills. This contributes to global warming and climate change. Additionally, the burning of waste, which is a common practice in Nigeria, releases harmful pollutants into the air that can have negative impacts on air quality and human health.
Some key reasons for improper waste management in Nigeria include a lack of awareness of proper sanitation, poor funding and investment, weak legislation and coordination, and a lack of personnel and infrastructure. To address this challenge, Nigeria must have an effective waste management structure that will ensure the protection of humans and the ecosystem, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as recover valuable resources and provide job opportunities.²⁶
Call to Action
Prioritise proper sanitation by allocating more funds to relevant ministries, departments and agencies responsible for waste management to train and equip its personnel and acquire the much-needed facilities such as waste resource sites and Geo-information systems for improved waste management that will reduce carbon emissions.
Decentralise the current waste management structures and institutions to recognise and incorporate the existing network of informal waste workers for better collection and handling of waste, especially from hard-to-reach areas and informal settlements. As well as ease and remove entry barriers for private sector investment in the waste sector to allow for more players at various levels in the waste sector.
Must design and initiate viable waste management frameworks that target segregation at source, provide waste and recycling bins with regular collection in public areas and mandate public and private institutions to incorporate recycling schemes in their business and spaces.
Mandate local and foreign manufacturers to key into the Extended Producer Responsibility Act to reduce indiscriminate production, incentivize recycling firms to aid recovery of waste, and support green businesses and relevant government agencies in the drive for a circular economy.
Urgently transform the current linear landfill system to a circular economy system that provides structures and encourages changes in consumers' behavioural patterns to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes.
Provide technical and financial support in the design and construction of engineered landfill systems and invest in waste management initiatives aimed at waste reduction and recovery through recycling, upcycling, waste-to-energy, and other green businesses.
Sponsor Nigerian educational institutions and CSOs to conduct research and build innovations and technologies for effective management and conversion of waste to energy, including software applications that monitor waste build-up and pick-up.
Collaborate with CSOs and government at all levels to embark on sustained nationwide campaigns to promote sanitation culture, and improve communication mechanisms for citizens to report cases of littering, uncollected wastes, blocked drainages, open dumps etc.
The Federal and State Ministries of Environment through its agencies responsible for environmental assessments must monitor and promptly announce air quality levels especially when these levels will adversely impact the health of citizens.
Continuously check local industries both in the rural and urban areas that emit pollutants and GreenHouse Gases and ensure that they comply with the stated emission guidelines.