DPI Recycling Project Cuts Plastic Waste at Abuja’s Biggest Dump Site

Plastic waste reaching Abuja’s largest dump site has reduced significantly as the Digital Peers International (DPI)-SGP 2.0 Plastic Waste Management Project begins to make an impact on recycling and environmental sustainability efforts in the Federal Capital Territory.

The development emerged during a visit by stakeholders to the Gosa dump site, where officials reviewed progress made under the initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF SGP).

Speaking during the inspection, Coordinator of the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme, Ibironke Olubamise, said the decline in plastic waste being deposited at the facility reflects the growing success of recycling campaigns and community-based environmental interventions across Abuja.

According to him, the project is helping to tackle plastic pollution while creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation.

“Plastic is everybody’s problem. It is not just an environmental issue; it affects all of us. That is why we continue to support projects that can create a positive environmental impact,” he said.

Olubamise noted that operators at the Gosa site had reported a marked reduction in plastic materials arriving at the facility compared to previous years, a development he linked to increased public awareness and recycling activities.

He also pointed to the economic potential of the recycling industry, saying young people are already turning discarded plastics into products such as furniture, paving stones and jewellery.

“There are enormous opportunities in the waste-to-wealth value chain. We have seen young people producing chairs, tables and other products from recycled plastics. If properly developed, these innovations can create jobs and generate income,” he added.

The programme coordinator cited similar initiatives in other parts of the country where waste materials are being transformed into commercially viable products, stressing the need for sustained support and investment.

Chief Executive Officer of Digital Peers International, Dr. Ibukun Odusote, said the visit was organised to give participants first-hand exposure to the realities of waste management and the opportunities within the sector.

She explained that the exercise was aimed at encouraging young people to explore innovative solutions to environmental challenges and resource recovery.

“This visit is intended to help young people identify opportunities within the waste management sector. Beyond plastics, there is a significant volume of organic waste that can be converted into valuable products, including energy and agricultural inputs,” she said.

Odusote identified poor data management as one of the major challenges facing the waste management sector and called for technology-driven solutions that could improve efficiency and planning.

She added that awareness and training programmes under the project were already inspiring new enterprises and innovative ideas among young participants.

Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that continued investment in recycling infrastructure, environmental education and youth engagement would further reduce the burden on waste disposal facilities while creating new economic opportunities.

They also noted that the Gosa dump site, one of the largest waste collection centres in the nation’s capital, could serve as a model for environmental recovery and sustainable waste management if current efforts are sustained.