{"id":1153321,"date":"2026-08-17T08:17:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1153321\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T08:17:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:17:28","slug":"lagos-waste-pickers-untold-story-of-climate-action-allies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1153321\/","title":{"rendered":"Lagos Waste Pickers: Untold Story of Climate Action Allies"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this special report, JOHNSON IDOWU<\/strong> examines how thousands of informal waste pickers, driven by poverty and unemployment, have become unlikely allies in Lagos\u2019s fight against plastic pollution and climate change\n<\/p>\n

Long before Lagos wakes up to another busy day, Abdulrafiu Sadiq is already at work.\n<\/p>\n

As traders prepare to open their shops and commuters begin their daily rush, he walks through mountains of refuse at various dumpsites with nothing but a hooked iron rod and a worn-out sack. His mission is simple: find discarded plastic bottles, sachet water nylons and food containers that can be sold to recycling agents before they disappear beneath fresh heaps of waste.\n<\/p>\n

The smell of decaying refuse hangs heavily in the air as flies swarm around the dumpsite. Despite the harsh conditions, Abdulrafiu carefully sorts through the rubbish, separating recyclable plastics from the rest.<\/p>\n

To many people, he is simply another scavenger trying to survive. But every plastic bottle he recovers is one less item that could end up blocking a drainage channel, polluting a river or being burnt in the open, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

Without knowing it, Abdulrafiu is quietly contributing to Nigeria\u2019s fight against plastic pollution and climate change.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really understand climate change,\u201d he told The PUNCH, pausing briefly from work.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I know that when plastics block gutters, floods will come. And when floods come, poor people suffer first.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Like thousands of informal waste pickers across Nigeria, Abdulrafiu\u2019s concern is not environmental activism. It is survival. The plastics he collects provide the little income he depends on to feed his family.\n<\/p>\n

A few kilometres away in the busy commercial district of Oshodi, another waste picker begins his own daily search.\n<\/p>\n

Just like Abdulrafiu, 30-year-old Jerry Samuel walks through crowded markets, bus stops and overflowing refuse bins in search of discarded plastic bottles and sachet water nylons.\n<\/p>\n

The work is physically demanding, but Jerry says the greatest challenge is often the way people treat him.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very stressful,\u201d he said. \u201cMany traders don\u2019t allow us to pick plastics around their shops. Some people call us thieves, while others chase us away.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Jerry never planned to become a waste picker.<\/p>\n

Originally from Gombe State, he holds a diploma in Management Studies from Plateau State Polytechnic. After spending years searching unsuccessfully for paid employment, he turned to collecting recyclable plastics to survive.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat pushed me into this work is a lack of a job,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

For more than two years, he has depended on selling recyclable plastics for his livelihood. On a good day, he earns about N3,000.\n<\/p>\n

According to him, the income is hardly enough to meet his basic needs.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is it sustainable?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhat I earn is hardly enough for breakfast, not to talk of lunch and dinner.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The job has also left permanent marks on his body.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see my hands,\u201d he said, stretching out his palms covered with cuts and scars.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes something sharp cuts you. There is the smell, the dirt and everything.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He said the harsh working conditions have affected his health.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI have fallen sick many times,\u201d he recalled. \u201cMost times I become feverish because of the sun, the stress and the nature of the work.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Despite facing these dangers daily, Jerry said neither the government nor any private organisation has ever provided him with gloves, boots, health insurance or any other form of support.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cFor one day, I have not received anything,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

For 35-year-old Ibrahim, scavenging became a way to keep his family afloat after life took an unexpected turn.\n<\/p>\n

Every morning, he hung his sack and travelled through the streets of Lagos, stopping whenever he spotted discarded plastic bottles or other recyclable materials.<\/p>\n

He said he turned to waste picking to support his family\u2019s financial needs.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe needed something to survive,\u201d he said. \u201cAt first, I was ashamed because people looked down on us. Later, I realised that honest work is better than begging.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Like many other waste pickers, Ibrahim leaves home before sunrise and often returns after sunset.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are days I leave before 6 a.m. and don\u2019t get back until evening,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I don\u2019t collect enough plastics, there may not be enough money to feed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He also works without gloves or safety boots.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI have stepped on broken bottles several times,\u201d he said. \u201cBut what choice do we have? We have to keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Abdulrafiu, Jerry and Ibrahim know little about climate science, they all understand one thing: plastic waste should not be left on the streets.\n<\/p>\n

Jerry believes the work done by waste pickers benefits everyone, even if few people appreciate it.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf nobody picks these plastics, they will remain everywhere,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are reducing the dirt in the environment. It helps to keep everywhere clean.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Across Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, thousands of informal waste pickers share similar stories.\n<\/p>\n

Driven by poverty, unemployment and the need to provide for their families, they recover tonnes of discarded plastics every day from dumpsites, markets and roadsides.\n<\/p>\n

Most of them do not see themselves as environmentalists or climate workers.<\/p>\n

Their work, though largely unnoticed, has become an important part of Nigeria\u2019s response to its growing plastic pollution and climate change challenge.\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0Nigeria\u2019s plastic challenge <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

The experiences of Abdulrafiu, Jerry and Ibrahim reflect a much bigger environmental problem facing Nigeria.\n<\/p>\n

Plastic waste has become one of the country\u2019s fastest-growing pollution challenges, threatening public health, worsening flooding and contributing to climate change.\n<\/p>\n

According to the United Nations Development Programme, Nigeria generates more than 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, but less than 10 per cent is recycled. The rest ends up in dumpsites, drainage channels, rivers, lagoons and the ocean, or is burnt in the open, releasing harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

\"\" \u2022 A scavenger picking plastic bottles inside drainage in Yaba\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Lagos matters <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

Lagos is increasingly facing the effects of climate change, driven by rapid urbanisation, poor waste management and its vulnerable coastal location. As one of Africa\u2019s largest cities, Lagos experiences rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.\n<\/p>\n

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, said plastic waste accounts for about 10 per cent of the municipal solid waste generated in Lagos, making it one of the largest components of the state\u2019s waste stream and a major environmental challenge.\n<\/p>\n

He explained that the consequences go far beyond littered streets.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cPlastic waste is a major contributor to flooding in Lagos because it clogs our drainage channels, canals and stormwater systems, preventing the free flow of rainwater,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring heavy rainfall, these blockages cause water to accumulate on roads and in communities, increasing the frequency and severity of urban flooding.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

According to him, plastic waste that finds its way into rivers and lagoons also degrades water quality and threatens aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n

At a recent climate discussion held in Lagos, the Team Lead of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, Prof Emmanuel Akyeampong, warned that Lagos faced an urgent climate challenge, saying sustained land subsidence and rising climate threats required immediate action.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cLagos has long been subjected to land subsidence. It is important that interventions are put in place. Scientists worry that if interventions are not put in place, Lagos, as we know it, will cease to exist by 2050,\u201d Akyeampong had said.\n<\/p>\n

More than a sanitation problem <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0For decades, plastic pollution has largely been viewed as an environmental sanitation issue.\n<\/p>\n

However, environmental experts say that perception is changing.\n<\/p>\n

The President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, in an interview with The PUNCH, said plastic pollution should also be seen as a climate change issue because plastics are made from fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases throughout their life cycle.\n<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cPlastic pollution is not just a sanitation problem; it is a climate issue. From production to disposal, plastics release carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that indiscriminate burning of plastics, a common practice in many communities, releases carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants that worsen climate change.\n<\/p>\n

According to him, poorly managed plastics also block drainage channels and waterways, increasing the risk of flooding, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.\n<\/p>\n

Similarly, an environmentalist, Abeeb Ajagbe, corroborated that the climate impact of plastics starts long before they become waste because they are produced from oil and gas.\n<\/p>\n

Ajagbe explained that when plastics are openly burnt, they release carbon dioxide and black carbon, a powerful pollutant that traps heat in the atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

He also warned that plastics damage natural ecosystems that help absorb carbon from the atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAs plastics break down into microplastics, they contaminate rivers, oceans and soils, disrupting natural systems that help absorb carbon,\u201d Agbaje said.\n<\/p>\n

He added that microplastics also threaten fish and other aquatic life because they are often mistaken for food before eventually finding their way into the human food chain.<\/p>\n

The invisible climate workforce <\/p>\n

Although most waste pickers simply see their work as a means of survival, environmental experts believe they are making an important contribution to climate action.\n<\/p>\n

An international development professional, environmentalist and Executive Director of U-recycle Initiative Africa, Oluwaseyi Jesuton, described waste pickers as informal climate workers because of the role they play in reducing plastic pollution.\n<\/p>\n

She noted that while there is no official occupation known as \u201cclimate worker,\u201d waste pickers are making a significant contribution to addressing environmental problems linked to climate change.\n<\/p>\n

According to her, waste pickers remove plastic bottles from streets, drainage channels and public spaces before they become environmental hazards.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a city like Lagos, this helps prevent environmental pollution, severe flooding, malaria, public health problems and road obstruction,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Jesuton noted that plastic bottles can take up to 450 years to decompose, making early recovery through waste picking even more important.<\/p>\n

She explained that waste pickers now recover plastic bottles from homes, markets, offices and public spaces before selling them to recycling aggregators and companies, where the plastics are processed into raw materials for new products.\n<\/p>\n

Because many Nigerian homes and businesses do not separate waste before disposal, she said waste pickers perform the difficult task of sorting plastics by hand.
\n\"\"\u2022 Heaps of plastics gathered by Jerry in Oshodi. Photos: Johnson Idowu\n<\/p>\n

Recognition still elusive<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

Despite their contribution, waste pickers remain largely excluded from the formal waste management system.\n<\/p>\n

Asked whether Lagos State officially recognises scavengers, Adeshina said their activities are currently not formally recognised because many operators work outside established regulations.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir operations are largely unregulated and often undermine the objectives of the state\u2019s waste management strategy,\u201d Adeshina said.\n<\/p>\n

However, he disclosed that the government plans to integrate waste pickers into the formal waste management system.<\/p>\n

According to him, the initiative will improve occupational safety, strengthen collaboration with recycling companies and create more organised opportunities for waste pickers to participate in the recycling value chain.\n<\/p>\n

Jesuton believes that giving waste pickers proper tools, protective equipment, training and organised associations would enable them to collect even more recyclable materials while improving their safety and dignity.\n<\/p>\n

She also said formalisation would provide reliable data to help governments, development partners and private organisations make better decisions on waste management instead of relying on outdated estimates.\n<\/p>\n

Cost of keeping Lagos plastic-free<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

Every day that these thousands of informal waste pickers leave their homes before sunrise to recover recyclable plastics from dumpsites, roadsides, markets and refuse collection points, most of them work with nothing more than a sack and a hooked iron rod.\n<\/p>\n

For many of them, survival comes before safety.\n<\/p>\n

Jerry knows the dangers all too well. The scars on his hands tell the story of years spent picking recyclable plastics from refuse bins without protective equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can see my hands,\u201d he said, pointing to several cuts. \u201cSometimes something sharp cuts you. There is the smell, the dirt and everything.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He said the harsh conditions have affected his health.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI have fallen sick, and most times I become feverish because of the sun, the stress and the nature of the work.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Abdulrafiu faces similar risks every day. \u201cThere are days I cough badly. But if I don\u2019t come to work, my family won\u2019t eat.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Their experiences are common among informal waste pickers across the state. Dangerous work with little protection\n<\/p>\n

Environmentalist and Executive Director of U-recycle Initiative Africa, Oluwaseyi Jesuton, said the poor condition of many waste pickers reflects years of neglect.\n<\/p>\n

According to her, many of them work in worn-out clothes without proper shoes or protective equipment, exposing themselves to injuries and infectious diseases.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen this so many times,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of these scavengers look hungry, poorly dressed and are not properly equipped for the job.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

She added that they often walk long distances carrying heavy sacks because they lack vehicles or simple equipment that could make their work easier.\n<\/p>\n

Jesuton said governments, civil society organisations and private companies all have important roles to play in improving their welfare.\n<\/p>\n

Among the support she recommended are gloves, safety boots, overalls, waste collection tools, tricycles for transporting recyclables, health insurance, financial literacy programmes and adult education opportunities.\n<\/p>\n

She also called for regular training on waste management and environmental protection.\n<\/p>\n

Waste pickers risk cancer \u2013 Don<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Professor of Public Health at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Best Ordinioha, warned that informal waste picking exposes workers to serious health risks.\n<\/p>\n

He explained that cuts from broken bottles and sharp metals can easily become infected, including with bacteria that cause tetanus.\n<\/p>\n

He also warned that constant exposure to smoke from burning waste and toxic gases from decomposing refuse increases the risk of respiratory diseases, poisoning and asthma.\n<\/p>\n

According to him, the dangers become even greater after years of continuous exposure.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cContinuous exposure to carcinogenic substances may increase the risk of cancers,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

He added that heavy metals present in some waste streams can damage vital organs such as the kidneys and may eventually result in kidney failure.\n<\/p>\n

To reduce these risks, Ordinioha recommended the use of industrial gloves, face masks, safety boots and protective clothing.<\/p>\n

He therefore urged governments to encourage waste separation at homes, schools, markets and offices so that recyclable materials are separated from hazardous waste before disposal.\n<\/p>\n

He also called for more public education on occupational safety for waste pickers.\n<\/p>\n

Backbone of Nigeria\u2019s recycling industry<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

Despite the difficult conditions under which they work, waste pickers remain central to Nigeria\u2019s recycling industry.\n<\/p>\n

A Lagos-based recycler, Sola Adeyemi, said the recycling industry depends heavily on informal waste pickers.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than 70 per cent of our raw materials come from scavengers,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they stop working today, many recycling plants will struggle because they provide the materials we depend on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, despite performing the hardest task in the recycling chain, he said waste pickers earn the least.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do the hardest work but earn the least,\u201d he added.\n<\/p>\n

LASG speaks<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

Adeshina acknowledged that regulating informal waste pickers remains challenging because many operate without registration.\n<\/p>\n

He noted that other concerns include occupational health risks, inadequate access to protective equipment, child labour in some cases and illegal waste sorting and dumping.\n<\/p>\n

However, he said that rather than banning planning waste pickers, the state is increasingly pursuing formalisation and collaboration.\n<\/p>\n

According to him, government plans include registering waste pickers, improving occupational safety, strengthening partnerships with recycling companies and creating more organised opportunities for them within the recycling value chain.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Jesuton believes formalisation would transform both the workers\u2019 lives and Nigeria\u2019s waste management system.\n<\/p>\n

She said a properly organised sector would improve data collection, attract investment, strengthen recycling infrastructure and enable governments to make better evidence-based decisions.\n<\/p>\n

Drawing lessons from countries such as the United Kingdom, she said waste collection does not have to be carried out under degrading or unsafe conditions.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire system can be formalised,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

What residents can do\n<\/p>\n

Adeshina urged residents to separate recyclable plastics from household waste, use available recycling collection services and reduce their dependence on single-use plastics by choosing reusable bags, bottles and containers.\n<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cResidents can make a significant impact by adopting simple daily habits: separating recyclable plastics from other household waste, utilising available recycling collection services, and consciously reducing their use of single-use plastics by opting for reusable bags, bottles, and containers.<\/p>\n

\u201cProper disposal is critical, waste should never be dumped on roads, in drains, or in waterways. Residents are also encouraged to participate in community clean-up exercises, including the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, and to support businesses that adopt environmentally friendly packaging.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Adeshina noted that Lagos State has already taken important steps by banning Styrofoam food packs and plastics thinner than 40 microns as part of efforts to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling.\n<\/p>\n

Unsung climate heroes<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

As Lagos faces rising temperatures, worsening floods and increasing plastic pollution, thousands of informal waste pickers continue to work quietly in the background.\n<\/p>\n

They receive little recognition. Most have no employment benefits. Many work without basic protective equipment.\n<\/p>\n

Yet every plastic bottle they recover helps to keep drains clear, reduce pollution, supply recycling companies with raw materials and prevent waste from reaching rivers and lagoons.\n<\/p>\n

Some of Nigeria\u2019s most important contributors to climate action are not found in conference halls or at international climate summits.<\/p>\n

They are found in dumpsites, markets and along busy streets. Working with bare hands. Risking their health and receiving little recognition.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In this special report, JOHNSON IDOWU examines how thousands of informal waste pickers, driven by poverty and unemployment,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1153322,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3843],"tags":[22209,2311,728,313809,42648,308474,302230,13702,3007,11477,18266,10688,70,16,5664,15,313810],"class_list":["post-1153321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-climate-action","tag-climate-change","tag-environment","tag-environmental-heroes","tag-environmental-protection","tag-informal-economy","tag-informal-sector","tag-lagos","tag-nigeria","tag-plastic-pollution","tag-poverty","tag-recycling","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-unemployment","tag-united-kingdom","tag-waste-pickers"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/117109869335312257","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1153321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1153321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1153321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1153322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1153321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1153321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1153321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}