Stakeholders have canvassed source segregation, the practice of separating waste materials at the point of generation, as a crucial step towards achieving zero waste in Lagos State.
The president of the National Union of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria, Friday Oku, disclosed this during a project launch for the demonstration of zero waste and source segregation.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers under the aegis of the Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives.
He said, “Waste management is a growing challenge in Lagos State. Source segregation, the practice of separating waste materials at the point of generation, is a crucial step towards achieving zero waste by enabling efficient recycling, composting, and reuse, ultimately reducing waste destined for landfills.
“Source segregation presents a practical solution for reducing waste, increasing recycling rates, and promoting sustainability. The economic benefits include reduced waste disposal costs, job creation and economic revenue generation from recyclable materials. Other economic benefits include reduced pollution and health costs, improved tourism and economic activity, boosting local economies, and enhanced estate reputation.”
According to Oku, zero waste and source separation are systems that everyone or every household must embrace to save our lives and environment by supporting climate change and circular economy sustainability.
During the event, the Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame, noted that the zero waste project is aimed at commemorating the International Day of Zero Waste, which is a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
Dr. Adogame said segregation of waste at source is the very first doorstep to waste management.
“If you look at the waste management hierarchy, the best point of intervention is minimisation of waste. Before the waste even gets to the dump site, it has to be properly managed. So, we are supporting the Lagos State Government, and by extension, the Federal Government to entrench what we call a zero-waste initiative in our waste management system.
“We are piloting this project in schools and communities in Lagos to demonstrate that it is actually easier and better to segregate waste at source since we already have what we call burgeoning disposal sites. The Lagos State government is closing up all its three disposal sites.
Why? Because there’s too much waste coming into those sites, and we are saying that it is just not enough for you to think of disposal waste management by looking at options like incineration and all that. If you can reduce waste at source, then you don’t even need large volumes of waste to get to the disposal site. This is what the zero waste initiative is.”
On the role the facility will play in waste management, the Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria opined that the BSF Facility would help to manage the organic waste in such a way that organic waste within Oko-Oba GRA Scheme 1 Housing Estate will not go outside the estate; it will all be managed here.
Speaking on the theme of the event, which is ‘Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles’, Dr. Adogame stated that the awareness is on how to reduce the enormous clothing materials that get to the waste site.
“The awareness raising is also against textiles that are not decomposable. Currently a lot of textiles these days are made with plastic materials, and Nigeria, being a major recipient of second-hand textiles or clothing, Gatankowa Market is not too far away from here, and a lot of all these textiles have reached their end of life, and by the time you wear it, a couple of things, they find their way into the dump site. So, the solution we are proposing is that instead of the Federal Government concentrating on looking at the potential of companies importing what we call refuse-derived fuel from EU countries.
“We have a huge volume of locally refuse-derived fuel that can be harnessed in clothing dump sites and can be used by those facilities. I mean, how do we want to import waste from other countries when the waste is abundant here? All what these companies just need to do is harness the waste that is in dump sites into refuse-derived fuel that can be used in cement kilns.”
Meanwhile, the programmes manager for sustainable research and action for environmental development, Victor Fabunmi, said zero waste management is an ambitious and comprehensive approach to waste reduction that aims at waste prevention.
He said, “This system emphasises redesigning resource life cycles to encourage products to be reused, repaired, or recycled rather than disposed of. Here’s an overview of the core systems and structures involved.
“Implementation of source segregation can be done through awareness and training, through workshops and training sessions for residents, domestic workers, and estate management staff on waste segregation. The provision of separate bins for biodegradable, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste and the installation of clear signage to guide proper disposal.
“Coordinate with waste management companies for regular collection and appropriate disposal. Partner with local recyclers and composting facilities for processing segregated waste, and encourage home composting for organic waste through training and provision of compost bins. In addition, establish a committee to oversee the segregation initiative. Conduct periodic audits to assess participation rates and effectiveness. Provide incentives and recognition for residents who actively participate.”
Present were the representatives of LAWMA, LASEPA, Ojokoro LCDA, Ridos school, and other waste management trade unions.
The project launched three colour-coded waste bins and carts and a BSF production facility for organic waste management for waste segregation.