INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WASTE PICKERS

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a union of waste picker organizations representing more than 460,000 workers across 34 countries
Supported by Logo WIEGO

National Association of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NASWON)

Lagos, Nigeria

Primary information

Year formed
2018
Registered in
2021
Language
English
Number of members
700
Type of members
Members are waste pickers
Occupation of members
Scrap dealers, Waste pickers
Type of Organization
Association
Organizational Reach
National
Workplace of members
Collection from companies, Door to door, Dumpsite, Home-based, Landfill, Slums, Street
Membership
No
Organization Structure
There will be an election once they get the certificate by the government.
Objectives
The same as the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers.
Education and training
Risks & health
Partnering organizations
FIWON
Funding
Self funded
Internal elections
Every 3 years
Women composition
33,7%

Social networking sites


Benefits


Services

What kind of relationship exists with the municipality?
None
How is the relationship with the municipality?
Excellent and/or friendly
Types of materials
Bottles, Cans, Clothing, Electronic waste, Glass, Household items, Metals, Paper and cardboard, Plastic, Plastics, Shoe soles
Are they selling to middlemen?
Yes
Activities
Buying materials, Cleaning, Collecting materials, Collection of recyclables, Community sale of materials, Community storage of materials, Organizing collective events, Selling materials, Sorting waste, Special collections from large generators of waste, Training and capacity building
Challenges to access waste
Contamination from waste, Foul smell & contamination from waste, Harassment from authorities, Lack of education & training, Lack of infrastructure & resources, Lack of recognition, Lack of tools, Lack of unity between organizations, Obtaining licenses, Price fluctuations of waste, Privatization, Transportation

Complementary Information

Information source
Interview with Friday Oku. 2022-02-15

Comments / Narrative

We are organizing the Wastepickers in Nigeria through their different clusters or dump sites and we are processing the registration under Trade Union Act in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

National Association of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NASWON); an affiliate of The Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria (FIWON) is a platform that represent those at the base of the recycling industry whose source of livelihood depends on the collection, sorting and recycling of waste. These three activities are always interrelated reflecting the environmental implications of their work. NASWON engages government at all levels, the private sector, local and international development agencies to promote knowledge driven initiatives to advance the socio-economic rights of scrap and waste workers.

NASWON submitted for certification in 2021 and is still waiting for an answer (as of February 2022).

The National Association of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NASWON) was formerly named National Union of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NUSWON).


Last updates from National Association of Scrap and Waste Workers of Nigeria (NASWON)

At GlobalRec.org