SEO Riders:
– GIZ, trinamiX, BASE & WAPAN pilot handheld sensors for precise material identification.
– Scalable initiative equips informal waste pickers—especially women and youth—with market-grade tools.
– Project aims to upscale across all 774 LGAs, increasing incomes, recycling quality, and circular economy growth.
German development agency GIZ, in collaboration with trinamiX, BASE West Africa, and the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), unveiled a cutting-edge handheld device to revolutionize waste sorting in Lagos. These portable sensors—piloted earlier in Kano—use advanced material identification technology to accurately classify plastics, textiles, carpets, mattresses, and photovoltaic modules. GIZ’s Markus Wauschkuhn emphasized that Nigeria produces around 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, much of which ends up in informal dumps. This innovation aims to boost earnings and professionalism among waste pickers—particularly women and youth—by improving the quality and value of hand-sorted recyclables.
As part of GIZ’s Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development programme, the launch included an official partnership agreement with WAPAN and key stakeholders from plastic manufacturers and government. The project begins with a pilot phase, providing training and devices to WAPAN members in Kano, with plans for nationwide rollout across all 774 Local Government Areas. WAPAN’s Kano representative, Aliyu Auwal, called the device “revolutionary,” praising its accuracy in sorting different plastic types. Beyond technical tools, the initiative includes capacity-building modules to enhance waste pickers’ skills, supporting inclusive green growth and formalizing the informal waste sector.
