Wastepickers Call for Integration into Formal Sector as International Wastepickers Day is Commemorated
LAGOS/Nigeria: The President of the Association of Scrapes and Wastepickers of Lagos (ASWOL), Mr. Friday Oku, has appealed for the integration of informal wastepickers into the formal sector.
This appeal was made during a sensitization walk organized by ASWOL and its partners in Lagos, coinciding with the International Wastepickers Day.
The walk, starting from Excellence Hotel Ogba and concluding at the Ojodu LCDA Secretariat, aimed to raise awareness among Lagos residents regarding the waste value chain, under the theme “Zero Waste Sensitization Campaign and Awareness on how to separate our Waste from Source.”
Mr. Oku emphasized the vital role wastepickers play in the state’s waste management system, highlighting the significant benefits of integrating them into formal waste collection. He stated, “They are individuals who collect and segregate recyclable materials from wastes to earn a livelihood.”
Despite their crucial role, wastepickers face numerous challenges, including health hazards, lack of education and skill development, limited access to financial support and healthcare, and social exclusion. Mr. Oku underscored the importance of recognizing their contribution to society and the environment, while also improving their working conditions.
Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev), urged Lagos residents to acknowledge the importance of wastepickers and emphasized the necessity of waste sorting from the source to facilitate their work.
Deji Akinpelu, Co-founder of Rethinking Cities, highlighted the societal demonization of wastepickers and stressed the need to formalize their role, considering they often bridge the gap left by formal waste collectors.
Haruna Mohammed, a wastepicker, shared his experience of making a living through waste picking in the state and urged the government to provide necessary support for their livelihoods.