African Clean Cities Platform
Role: Solid Waste Management Expert (with RWA Group)
Country: 17 African cities, including Lagos, Nigeria
Client: UN-Habitat / African Clean Cities Platform (ACCP)
The Objective
UN-Habitat’s work with the African Clean Cities Platform (ACCP) set out to matchmake cities, depending on their development band to international donor agencies to strengthen the weaker links in the waste value chain according to need. This was carried out across 17 African cities where reliable baseline data was collected using the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT) and Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) for each. Our final reports identified service, policy, and financial gaps and to connect cities with international partners who could support investment and improvement in matchmaking workshops.
In Lagos, Nigeria, was one of these cities that implemented the WaCT and WFD to quantify plastic leakage, identify major waste streams and guide the development of targeted interventions to reduce pollution and improve collection efficiency. Our presented findings informed policy discussions within the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, prompting them to ban single-use styrofoam containers.
The Approach
Analysed data showing approximately 34 kg/person/year of plastic waste leaking into Lagos waterways, equating to about ten plastic bottles per resident per day being thrown into waterways.
Identified single-use polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers as a major contributor to flooding and pollution in the city’s drainage channels.
The Impact
Provided the evidence base that led to the 2024 Lagos State ban on single-use styrofoam containers.
Strengthened the city’s ability to plan targeted interventions for plastic reduction and improved waste collection.
Demonstrated how WaCT and WFD tools can translate technical data into actionable policy and political will.
Positioned Lagos as a reference case for other African cities within the ACCP network seeking to use data for policy reform and investment planning.