Lagos, June 5, 2026 — The Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL) has urged the government to formally integrate waste pickers into Nigeria’s environmental and climate policy frameworks, arguing that their role in recycling and waste recovery is still largely undervalued.
ASWOL President, Mr Friday Oku, made the appeal in a statement issued on Friday to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day.
He described waste pickers as essential actors in the circular economy, noting that many of them recover recyclable materials daily from streets, dumpsites, and drainage channels across urban centres.
According to him, their work helps reduce environmental pollution, prevents waste from ending up in landfills, and strengthens recycling systems.
However, he said despite their contributions, waste pickers continue to face serious challenges, including exposure to health hazards, lack of protective gear, low earnings for recovered materials, and limited recognition within formal systems.
“Meaningful climate action cannot exclude those who manually collect and sort waste,” Oku said, adding that there is a need for safety protection, fair compensation, and formal inclusion in recycling policies.
He added that plastic waste reduction and recycling efforts would be more effective if waste pickers are fully integrated into official waste management structures and environmental programmes.
Oku called on the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, and private sector partners to provide training, social protection, and protective equipment for workers in the sector.
He said formal recognition has become increasingly important as Lagos intensifies efforts to address plastic pollution and improve sustainable waste practices.
According to him, properly integrating waste pickers into the system would improve livelihoods, boost recycling rates, and strengthen Nigeria’s broader climate and environmental goals.