LAGOS/Nigeria: Waste pickers in Lagos have called for formal recognition and greater inclusion in Nigeria’s drive toward a circular economy, stressing that sustainability goals cannot be achieved without their active participation.
The President of the Association of Scraps and Wastepickers of Lagos (ASWOL), Mr. Friday Oku, made the call on Sunday while commemorating the 2026 International Waste Pickers’ Day.
The global event, themed “Zero Waste and Circular Economy Initiative: No Sustainability without Waste Pickers,” highlights the critical role informal waste workers play in environmental protection and resource recovery.
Oku noted that waste pickers have long been at the forefront of recycling efforts, recovering, sorting and reintroducing valuable materials into productive use on a daily basis.
“Our activities reduce pressure on landfills, prevent pollution, conserve resources and contribute to climate action,” he said, adding that waste pickers were practising circular economy principles long before the concept gained global prominence.
Despite their contributions, he lamented that many waste pickers continue to operate without formal recognition, social protection or safe working conditions.
Oku therefore urged government and private sector stakeholders to acknowledge waste pickers as key environmental service providers and integrate them into national waste management frameworks.
He also advocated for inclusive waste policies, improved occupational safety standards, fair compensation and meaningful participation in decision-making processes within the sector.
According to him, achieving a zero-waste future requires more than policy declarations.
“Zero waste cannot be achieved through policy alone, but through the people who drive environmental action every day,” he said.
ASWOL is affiliated with the International Alliance of Waste Pickers.
