Janet Ogundepo
Environmentalists have re-emphasised the need to end indiscriminate waste disposal practices in Nigeria and called for urgent action to avert potential health crises.
They also urged the government to expedite action on implementing existing waste management systems in the country.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria generates about 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, out of which only 30 per cent of waste is efficiently collected and disposed of.
Despite this figure and inefficient waste collection method, the World Bank projected that Nigeria would generate 107 million tonnes by 2050.
Another World Bank report ranked Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and India as the top three countries with the most unsafe levels of pollution and environmental hazards.
Meanwhile, a report by the Yale Centre for Environmental Law and Policy ranks Nigeria among the 30 countries with the worst waste management practice out of 180 countries in the world.
While commemorating the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, the United Nations Environmental Programme decried the increase in waste generation and ineffective waste management systems around the world.
The March 30 celebration serves as a reminder of the importance of strengthening waste management efforts on a global scale, drawing attention to the critical need for sustainable consumption and production practices.
UNEP added, “Every year, humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. Some 2.7 billion people lack access to waste collection, 2 billion of whom live in rural areas. Waste pollution significantly threatens human well-being and economic prosperity, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. Without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste generation will hit 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.”
An ineffective waste collection system and a lack of a holistic waste management system are some of the factors listed by an environmental group, Earth.org, as the cause of the indiscriminate waste problem in the country.
The environmental experts, in separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, stated that the lack of value placed on waste management and recycling were further causes of waste litter in the country.
An environment enthusiast and the founder of a recycling company, Envirocycles Group, Ernest Onyenze, stated that zero waste is achievable in Nigeria.
He noted that the lack of value on waste products, especially solid and commercial post-consumption waste products, was the cause of litter by the roadside and dumpsites.
Onyenze added, “For this to be possible, businesses have to be built around them and at all the value chain. A new set of entrepreneurs will play within the circle. From collections, sorting and baling or packaging through logistics.
“Another set will take it up from there to recycling. However, before you venture into recycling, you must be very clear on who buys your recycled product and the specifics are given to you. With all these in place, some recyclable waste products will be substantially reduced.”
He asserted that the environment, if not salvaged from indiscriminate waste, could lead to “some collateral health damage to the citizens.”
Onyenze urged the government at all levels to be intentional about waste reduction by providing the enabling environment for the private sector to flourish.
“Government they say, has no business being in business, and they can’t drive waste management effectively like entrepreneurs. They can at best provide the legal framework and policies that govern the sector. If we develop our waste management systems, lots of jobs will be created.
“Finally, the government has the onerous task of ensuring that our environment is free from waste and pollution by deploying the world’s best practices in all the state capitals and Abuja while using the private sector as the drivers. Happy Zero Waste Day,” he stated.
Also, an environmentalist and the Head of Grants, Partnership and Climate Change Thematic Lead at the Women Environmental Programme, Ukange Ichivirbee, stated that efforts to transition to a circular economy model remained at the policy level and have not yet been translated into actionable points that will effectively reduce waste in Nigeria.
He explained that the circular economy model was where resources are reused, recycled, or repurposed to minimise waste generation and maximise resource efficiency.
Ichivirbee emphasised the need for more public awareness to educate Nigerians on the proper management of waste including encouragement of households, businesses and industries to segregate waste at source.
He lamented the glaring absence of effective implementation of Nigeria’s waste-to-wealth initiative, highlighting the significant oversight in acknowledging waste pickers as key stakeholders in waste management.
He further urged the government to recognise waste pickers and integrate them into the Extended Producer Responsibility program.
The environmentalist also recommended support for waste pickers in accessing low-tech machines to ensure that recyclable materials are used in the production of marketable plastic products.
“The government of Nigeria should also ensure the enforcement of the EPR program is implemented across all 36 states of the Federation to create market demand for recyclable products. For now, only the FCT and Lagos are implementing the EPR. With the enforcement of the EPR, market value will be added to the waste generated by households, encouraging them to segregate and keep the valuable waste for sale as is currently being done in Lagos and Abuja.
“Additionally, the enforcement of EPR will translate to existing recycling companies securing more contracts with producers of plastics in Nigeria to invest in waste management infrastructure such as recycling facilities, composting plants, and waste-to-energy facilities. Adequate infrastructure is essential for proper waste collection, sorting, and processing,” he added.
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