The RISE Project, an initiative promoting sustainable organic waste management and the inclusion of informal waste workers, has produced approximately one tonne of compost in Akwa Ibom.
The project, implemented by the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL), with support from UMI Microgrants, focuses on composting, environmental education and the empowerment of informal waste workers.
Priscillia Oku, Project Coordinator, said the initiative combined practical composting with community training, school education and market engagement.
The main community training was held on Oct. 15 at Ikot Akpa Edok, Ndiya, Ikono, Akwa Ibom, with schoolchildren, community leaders, farmers, waste workers, market women and youths in attendance.
Oku said the composting process faced challenges, including difficulties in securing a suitable and affordable site and persistent rainfall, which affected the implementation schedule.
Despite the challenges, the compost matured and approximately one tonne was harvested and distributed among farmers, informal waste workers, market women and other community members.
Some of the compost was also applied on a farm to demonstrate its potential use in agriculture.
The project also organised school sessions to promote environmental awareness and responsible waste management among students.
Market engagements provided opportunities to discuss proper waste handling and the potential benefits of managing organic materials for productive use.
However, obtaining government approvals for visits to some schools and accessing markets and relevant government officials posed challenges during implementation.
The project team said some schools and farmers had expressed interest in receiving more personalised training following the engagements.
The initiative also seeks to promote the recognition and inclusion of informal waste workers, whose daily activities contribute to material recovery and environmental protection.
It aims to strengthen their participation in community-based waste management and establish connections between waste workers and farmers through composting.
The next phase of the project is expected to build on the composting activities, extend training to more community members and sustain the involvement of informal waste workers.
The project emphasises the potential of composting to reduce organic waste while producing useful materials for agricultural activities.
