Environmental consultant, Dr Lawrence Umoh, has urged Nigeria to move beyond traditional waste disposal and transform urban refuse into economic opportunities through recycling, renewable energy and inclusive waste management.
Umoh, speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, advocated the formalisation of informal waste pickers through cooperative-led Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. He said better first-mile collection, community drop-off centres and incentives linking residents with recycling markets could improve recycling, earnings and environmental sanitation.
He also recommended waste-to-energy hubs where food waste could be converted into biogas for cooking and electricity, while agricultural residues and other dry waste could be processed into construction materials. He said Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things technologies could further improve monitoring, maintenance and production quality.
The expert called for green public procurement policies and clearer regulations for waste-derived products and biogas to attract investment. He cautioned against conventional mass-burn incineration because of toxic-emission concerns, urging Nigeria to adopt integrated systems that support a circular economy while creating jobs and sustainable industries.
Leave a comment