From margins to mainstream: policy interventions and cultural realities of the informal waste sector in Nigeria

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation and rising consumption patterns have increased waste volumes across Nigerian cities, intensifying pressure on municipal systems and heightening environmental concerns. At the same time, informal waste workers continue to recover a significant share of recyclable materials, despite operating without formal recognition or institutional support. This study examines how cultural norms, social networks and indigenous practices shape the organisation of Nigeria’s informal waste sector and influence its relationship with emerging policy frameworks. Using a qualitative, interpretive research design, the study draws on recent literature, policy documents and field-based accounts to explore the cultural foundations of informal recycling, assess the implications of current reforms and identify opportunities for more inclusive governance. The analysis shows that informal waste work is embedded in kinship ties, gendered labour roles, neighbourhood institutions and local authority structures, all of which enable system resilience and high recovery performance. However, policy interventions that prioritise Western-derived models or large private concessions often marginalise informal workers and undermine recycling outcomes. The study recommends a culturally responsive policy approach that includes legal recognition, participatory governance platforms, negotiated access to waste materials, targeted social protection and market-stabilisation mechanisms. Integrating these measures would support livelihoods, strengthen circular-economy outcomes and reposition the informal waste sector “from margins to mainstream” within Nigeria’s waste governance landscape.