At a recent WeGrow Together session convened by Olajide Dada, guest speaker Taiwo Adewale delivered a clear and practical message. What Nigerians throw away every day can become the foundation for businesses, jobs, and sustainable growth.
The idea is known as Wastenomics. At its core, it is about turning waste into wealth.
Nigeria generates about 32 million tonnes of waste every year, which translates to roughly 100,000 tonnes daily. Lagos alone produces around 13,000 tonnes each day, driven by its population of over 22 million people. A large portion of this waste still ends up in dumpsites, not because it has no value, but because systems to manage and process it remain weak.
According to Adewale, the real challenge is not waste generation but waste management.
As the population continues to grow, the volume of waste increases, making proper sorting and structured systems more important than ever. He stressed the need to separate waste into organic materials, recyclables, chemical waste, and electronic waste to unlock value.
One of the easiest entry points is recycling.
Plastics, nylons, beverage cans, and cartons all hold strong economic potential. Nigeria produces about one billion PET bottles every year, yet only around 30 percent are collected, and just 15 to 20 percent are recycled. The rest end up in the environment, contributing to flooding, pollution, and lost economic value.
The recycling system in Nigeria is largely driven by informal workers.
Waste pickers account for nearly 80 percent of recycling activities, moving across homes, streets, and dumpsites to recover useful materials. Their role remains critical, even though it is often overlooked.
Explaining how value is created, Adewale noted that PET bottles are collected, sorted, cleaned, and compressed before being sold to recycling companies. These are then processed into flakes used for making textiles such as clothing, pillows, and mattresses, or turned back into new bottles.
Nylon materials are also recycled into shopping bags, while used beverage cans are converted into aluminium ingots used for cooking utensils, roofing sheets, doors, and windows. Brown cartons are recycled into new cartons, supporting a circular system of production.
On concerns about recycling plants within communities, Adewale explained that when properly managed, recyclable materials do not produce bad odours and do not pose health risks. Issues only arise when waste is mixed or poorly handled.
The session also highlighted new opportunities, including the use of plastic waste such as sachet nylons to produce building bricks. While promising, he noted that the process must be done in controlled environments using proper equipment to ensure safety.
Participants were encouraged to explore demonstration projects such as those led by Planet 3R in Ibadan, where plastic-to-brick solutions are already being practised.
Beyond the focus on waste, the session also reflected the broader vision of WeGrow Together. The initiative continues to raise a new generation of empowered leaders in Nigeria through mentorship, skills development, and strategic partnerships. Its goal is to build self-reliant and socially responsible individuals who can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth and national development.
In his closing remarks, Dada emphasized the need for collaboration and grassroots participation, noting that platforms like WeGrow Together are designed to connect people with real opportunities.
The message was simple and direct. Plastics, cans, nylons, and cartons are not useless materials. They are valuable resources.
If properly harnessed, waste can become a major driver of jobs, enterprise, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
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