Waste-to-Wealth Opportunities
In Lagos today, waste is one of the most visible problems — from plastic bottles blocking drainages to heaps of food waste rotting in markets. But what many people do not realize is that this same waste is also a goldmine of opportunities. If properly managed, it can create jobs, reduce poverty, and power small businesses. At The Waste Forum, we believe in changing the mindset from “waste as a nuisance” to “waste as a resource.”
- Plastic Recycling: Plastic bottles and sachet water nylons, which are often seen littering streets and canals, can be crushed and remolded into building materials, furniture, and even fashion items. Several local entrepreneurs in Lagos are already making interlocking blocks from plastics, showing how innovation can solve housing and waste issues at the same time.
- Organic Waste: Lagos markets produce tons of food waste every single day. Instead of letting it rot and release harmful gases, this organic waste can be converted into compost for farming or into biogas, which provides a cheaper alternative to cooking gas.
- E-Waste Recycling: Old computers, phones, and gadgets are often abandoned, but within them are valuable metals like copper, aluminum, and even traces of gold. Proper e-waste recycling reduces toxic pollution while creating a new stream of income for young technicians.
- Job Creation & Entrepreneurship: One of the biggest challenges facing Lagos is unemployment. Waste-to-wealth programs can empower youths, women, and local communities to earn sustainable income while also cleaning up their environment.
Our role at Lagos Waste Forum is to provide training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for people who want to enter the waste-to-wealth sector. We connect collectors to buyers, teach innovative recycling methods, and help entrepreneurs find investors for their eco-businesses.
School & Youth Engagement
If there is one truth we hold on to, it is this: the future of Lagos belongs to its youth. If we want a Lagos that is clean, green, and sustainable, then we must start teaching children and young people today. Our School & Youth Engagement Program is designed to build a culture of environmental responsibility among the next generation.
- Eco-Clubs in Schools
We partner with schools to set up eco-clubs where students learn how to recycle, reduce waste, and care for the environment. These clubs are not boring lectures — they are fun, creative spaces where students organize clean-up days, recycling drives, and even eco-art competitions. - Competitions & Hackathons
Young people are naturally creative. We tap into this creativity by organizing essay competitions, debates, and hackathons where students brainstorm innovative solutions to Lagos’ waste problems. Some of the best ideas we’ve seen have come from teenagers who simply looked at waste differently. - Training Youth Leaders
Awareness is not enough. We equip young people with leadership skills so they can run projects in their schools and communities. From learning how to mobilize volunteers to managing small budgets, these youths are being prepared to become tomorrow’s environmental champions. - Supporting Student Projects
Some students have gone beyond awareness to develop real waste solutions. When we see such passion, we support them with mentorship, grants, and sometimes media exposure to showcase their work.
By investing in young people, we are planting seeds that will grow into a cleaner, healthier Lagos. The truth is, if the next generation does not take ownership of this fight, Lagos will never win the war against waste.