The federal, state and local governments have been urged to provide policy and support programmes that would enhance the living standards of scrap and waste workers.
Demanding a comprehensive social protection programme for waste workers, the National Coordinator of the National Union of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NUSWON), Mr. Friday Oku, said such programmes would protect its members from negative exposure on the job.
Oku, in a statement, said the lack of protection and poor access to healthcare has aggravated the risk his men face, especially during this COVID-19 period. He, therefore, appealed for personal protection equipment (PPE) for waste pickers who he said are prone to health risks through the collection of medical waste.
“The three tiers of government, NGO and Corporate Bodies should also look into the area of providing spaces e.g. Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting and storing as well as training and technical support for waste workers.The provision of financial support is also very crucial for survival of scrap and waste workers due to their inability to accumulate capital, expand and improve their activities,” he appealed.
According to him, NUSON, an affiliate of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organisations of Nigeria (FIWON), is a platform that represents those at the base of the recycling industry whose source of livelihood depends on the collection, sorting and recycling of waste.
“As you may be aware, the scrap and waste workers provide the only form of solid waste collection, providing widespread public benefit and achieving a high recycling rate. Waste pickers collect household and commercial/industrial waste from private bins, dump sites, along streets, waterways and landfills which are used for recycling thereby contributing to the GDP of Nigeria economy,” Oku said.
Despite the enormous contribution of scrap and waste workers, the National Coordinator said they still faced a lot of challenges ranging from social, economic to health. Scrap and waste pickers are often subjected to social stigma, constant harassments and poor living and working conditions.
The pandemic has further exposed these workers to many health risks. Waste pickers are exposed to contaminants and hazardous waste materials, from fecal matter and medical waste to toxic fumes and chemicals, he added.
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