The collector of Nigeria’s plastic bottle is wasted in the money: the survey shed highlights their inspiration

Plastic waste in Nigeria presents a dual challenge: cleaning environmental pollution, and tapping in its economic capacity.

Many countries around the world face similar challenges. India, for one, chosen Policies This gives plastic producers the responsibility of managing their waste. Rwanda is Ban on Ekla-utility promoted recycling initiative led by plastic and communities.

These approaches show that it is possible to address plastic waste issues by promoting economic opportunities.

In Nigeria, informal collectors of plastic bottle waste are central to achieve both these goals. They turn the waste into monetary value.

previous research Plastic bottle has highlighted the environment and economic benefits of collecting waste. Especially in Nigeria, what attention is on the assumptions of waste collection as a business, less attention has been paid to.

This article examines that interval, given socio-cultural, economic and environmental influences on those perceptions.

I am one Researcher In the areas of plastic waste management, environmental governance and sustainable development. I am involved in my work Reading Related plastic bottles in sustainable community-based housing projects.

Here I will draw from one Searching survey Was held in Ijebu region of Ogun state of Nigeria. Using a questionnaire, we surveyed 86 participants, who had at least five years of experience in the plastic waste industry.

The study identified factors such as education, family size, religion, gender, age and economic mobility, which is relevant to participation in plastic bottle waste collection business.

Understanding these effects can help the government target policies.

Education level and information

Our study found that participants with higher education levels understood the economic benefits of plastic waste collection as a systematic form of business. Less educated participants saw the waste collection as a mouth to earn a living hand.

Education programs created in waste management campaigns can improve the recognition of waste collection as a structured and profitable business opportunity and develop culture like a business among collectors.

Paternity, family size and financial obligation

Family size was a factor affecting the perceptions of plastic bottle waste collection as a business. People with large families saw waste collection as a possible way to provide food, housing, education and other essential things.

However, the association of waste collection with income instability highlights the need to formal and stabilize the region. Waste collection should be made in a permanent and reliable business model.

Religion and cultural criteria

Religion and cultural beliefs emerged as an influence from our survey. This was clear in the reactions of those who followed African traditional religions and Islam.

These respondents looked at waste collection as financially possible, aligning with religious teachings that emphasize resource management and stewardships. For example, Israf (avoiding wasteness) and Islamic teachings on zakat (charity) promote efficient resource use and economic activities benefiting communities.

Similarly, African traditional religion often emphasizes communal responsibility and permanent use of resources. These religious principles underline the cultural acceptance of waste collections both as a practical and morally guided economic activity.

Other cultural criteria, such as communal responsibility and the value on cooperation also affected the attitude towards waste collection. In communities with a strong tradition of collective action, where unity and mutual support are highly valuable, waste collection is often seen as an associate effort.

These cultural criteria strengthen the idea that waste collection is not just a personal function, but a collective duty that benefits the entire community.

Gender mobility

Gender plays a role in perception and practice in waste collection. Our survey found that male participants were more likely to see this activity as a business than female participants.

As they are constrained due to lack of access to resources, women are involved in separating and marketing reusable objects. Measures such as microfinance can increase women’s engagement and commercial opportunities.

This will empower women and make waste collection more inclusive and sustainable business.

Age and desire to become an entrepreneur

In our study, perceptions were affected by age. Small individuals, up to 14 years, saw plastic bottle waste collection as the entrance to employment. Adults aged 33–38 years used their experience to get better returns on business.

This age-based distinction suggests that in different stages of life bring unique motivations and approach to waste collection.

Policy actions that support entrepreneurship in various life stages can promote long -term engagement in the industry. This will help to form the waste collection as a permanent and profitable business.

Economic and social factor

Income opportunities affected the experiences of the participants more than social factors. Often, it determines how long he remained in business. Excessive earning people were likely to reinforce and increase, while low income often disintegrated or exit. This highlights the importance of financial incentive in shaping waste collection practices.

Social connections also play a role in promoting cooperation. This team facilitates the exchange of work and ideas, and creates a sense of shared objective and collective results among the participants.

By strengthening these economic and social bonds, plastic bottle waste collection can be formalized, making it a more efficient and profitable business.

looking ahead

The study has an important application for Nigeria’s waste management industry. Adding education programs to waste management programs will improve people’s commercial skills.

Well-coordinated intervention strategies can remove cultural and gender-specific obstacles. For example, cooperatives and microfinance waste collections can make the collection more economically attractive.

Strategies can also draw on cultural norms to increase community acceptance of waste collection and make it more inclusive.

Samupert student Samuel Oludare Avobona contributed to this research at Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.

This article has been reinstated Conversation Under a Creative Commons License. read the Original article,