As the International Community marks the International Wastepickers Day, the Association of Scrapes and Wastepickers of Lagos (ASWOL), has called for the integration of informal wastepickers to the formal sector
The President of ASWOL, Mr Friday Oku, made the appeal on Friday in Lagos during a sensitization walk organized by the association and its partners to sensitise Lagos residence on waste value chain.
Newsmen reports that the walk, which began in front of Excellence Hotel Ogba, ended at the Ojodu LCDA Secretariat, was organized to mark the International Waatepickers Day.
The theme of the event is: “Zero Waste Sensitization Campaign and Awareness on how to separate our Waste from Source.”
Oku said that Wastepickers play an essential role in the waste management system in the state, and integrating them into the formal waste collection system has enormous benefits.
“They are individuals who collect and segregate recyclable materials from WASTES to earn a livelihood.
“While their work is crucial for recycling and environmental sustainability, Wastepickers face numerous challenges and hardships in their daily lives.
Oku noted that Wastepickers or Collectors face
health hazards, lack education and skill development.
He said that they have limited access to loans, grants and healthcare.
Other challenges faced by the informal waste collectors include:
“Lack of Social protection and security, unstable earnings, environmental dangers, absence of organized sector, harsh working conditions, social exclusion and child labour
Oku said that wastepickers lack access to government schemes and policies; have absence of waste segregation at source.
He added that wastepickers have inadequate waste disposal infrastructure or storage facilities.
Oku noted that as heroes of recycling, it is essential to recognize the contribution of wastepickers to society, environment and improve their working conditions.
He aded that it was important to break the cycle of poverty among wastepickers by giving them access to loan facilities to upscale.
He expressed gratitude to ASWOL partners for their support.
Also speaking, Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev), urged Lagos residents to recognize the importance of wastepickers .
Adogame emphasized the need for waste sorting from the source to make the work of wastepickers less tedious.
For Deji Akinpelu, Co-founder Rethinking Cities, one of the greatest challenges facing waatepickers is their demonization by the society.
Akinpelu said that efforts should be geared towards formalizing wastepickers since they fill the gap for the formal waste collectors.
One of the waste pickers, Haruna Mohammed, said that he has been able to make a living through waste picking in the state.
Mohammed urged the government to give them all the support they need to thrive.
