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The Nigerian’s Guide to a Zero Waste Lifestyle Illustration (1) (1).pdf
1. The Nigerian’s Guide to a
Zero Waste Lifestyle
Authored & Designed by
Uduma Alobo
2. Preface
The poor state of Nigeria's waste management infrastructure and
system is no secret. Drainages in urban areas are clogged with plastics &
other materials, heaps of trash can be easily seen along roadsides and
accumulated trash is burnt regularly.
Cities and towns are evidently struggling to manage the large volume of
waste generated by Nigeria’s growing urban population.
A significant reduction in the amount of waste generated by the urban
population will ease the burden of waste management and this is where
the zero waste movement comes in very handy.
3. Preface
By applying the principles of zero waste, individuals can reduce their
waste generation and thereby reduce the burden of waste management
and enhance the efficiency of the existing infrastructure and system.
I wrote this book to inspire Nigerians (and hopefully Africans) to adopt
the zero waste lifestyle and to guide individuals on their zero waste
journey.
The hints and tips in this book are meant to give the readers ideas of
some changes they can apply to their lifestyles; they are NOT a
comprehensive list of possible lifestyle changes that can be
implemented on the zero waste journey.
5. Glossary
Eco-friendly means being designed to have little or no damaging effect
on the environment.
Composting is the biodegradation of organic objects and substances in
the presence of oxygen to produce water, carbon dioxide and soil
enriching biomass (humus).
Biodegradation is the breakdown of objects and substances into water,
carbon dioxide and biomass by bacteria or other living organisms.
1
6. Glossary
Humus is the soil enriching dark, organic material that forms in soil when
plant and animal matter decays.
Environmental Pollution is the contamination of the physical and
biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an
extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.
Green jobs are decent jobs that contribute to preserve or restore the
environment.
2
7. Glossary
Single-use items are products and packaging designed to be used only
once before they are discarded.
Open dumps are sites at which solid wastes are disposed of in a manner
that does not protect the environment, are susceptible to open burning,
and are exposed to the elements, vectors, and scavengers.
Landfills are engineered pits, in which layers of solid waste are filled,
compacted and covered for final disposal in a manner that protects the
environment.
3
8. Glossary
Waste is any material or substance which the holder discards or intends
to discard.
Waste Incineration Plants are waste treatment facilities in which waste
materials are burnt under controlled conditions to reduce weight and
volume.
Waste scavengers are people who salvage reusable and recyclable
materials from the waste stream.
4
9. Introduction to Zero Waste Lifestyle
Definition
The Zero Waste Lifestyle is an eco-friendly lifestyle that aims to significantly
reduce the amount of solid waste an individual creates during their
lifetime1.
Despite the name of the lifestyle movement, it is currently impossible for an
individual to achieve 100% zero waste so it is important for people to set
realistic expectations.
5
10. Introduction to Zero Waste Lifestyle
Goal
The goal of the Zero
Waste Movement is to
significantly reduce the
amount of waste sent to
landfills or waste
incineration plants1.
In our case in Nigeria, to
reduce the amount of
waste thrown in open
dumpsites or burnt in
open air.
OR
6
11. Introduction to Zero Waste Lifestyle
Benefits
Community Benefits Environmental Benefits
Creates Green Jobs Reduces environmental pollution
Builds community relationships Conserves natural resources
7
Source: (2)
12. Principles of Zero Waste Lifestyle
Most Preferred
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Compost
Dispose
Ascending
Order
of
Preference
Least Preferred
8
Source: (3)
13. Reduce
Reduction is the practice of limiting an individual’s waste
generation by avoiding and minimising waste generation
where possible4.
Avoiding waste generation involves finding alternative
products and services that do not produce waste.
Minimising waste generation involves finding alternative
products and services that produce less waste.
9
14. Reduce
Hints & Tips
DIY: Make your
own.
Properly care for
your items to expand
their lifespan.
Borrow items
instead of buying.
Buy high quality
items with proven
long lifespans.
Bring your own
items
Buy package free
where possible and say
no extra packaging.
Use
multifunctional
items.
Properly preserve
your food to
avoid spoiling.
10
Purchase items
made of sustainable
materials and
packaging.
Avoid using
single-use
items.
15. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Buy items with
warranty
Buy high quality
items with proven
long lifespans.
Buy high quality
items from
trusted brands
11
16. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Properly care for
your items to expand
their lifespan.
Follow manufacturers’
care/maintenance
guide
Buy good quality
spare parts
12
Find reliable
technicians for
maintenance
17. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Buy little
quantity at a
time
Properly preserve
your food to avoid
spoiling.
Apply correct
preservation methods
for food type.
Preservation methods:
Refrigerating, Freezing,
Drying, Fermenting,
Salting, Sugaring, etc.
Pay attention to
product expiry
dates
13
Give away
excess food
items before
they spoil
18. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Cleaning Products:
Dish soap, Bleach,
etc.
Make your own
(**where possible).
Personal Care Products:
Lotions, Mouthwash,
Shampoo, Soap, etc.
Other: Furniture,
Home decor,
Jewellery, etc.
Clothing Items:
Clothes, Bags,
Shoes, etc.
Water: Treat your water
at home instead of
buying bottled water or
pure water.
14
Below are some
DIY ideas.
19. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Appliances:
Cameras, Speakers,
Projectors, etc.
Borrow or rent items
instead of buying.
Clothing Items:
Clothes, Shoes,
Bags, Jewellery, etc
Power tools:
Drills & drill bits,
Hammers, etc.
Other: Plastic
Furniture, Tents,
Industrial Pots, etc.
15
Below are some
items that can be
borrowed/rented
20. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Bring your own items
to avoid collecting or
buying new ones.
Shopping bags
Cups/Travel
mugs
Water bottles
Take away
plates
16
Below are some
items that can be
carried around
Reusable straws
& cutlery
21. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Buy package free
from local vendors
Buy package free
where possible and
say no extra
packaging.
Say no to extra
plastic bags
Refill old containers
where possible
17
22. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Use multifunctional
items.
Personal Care Products: E.g.:
Using Vaseline to seal moisture
skin, hair and lips.
Using black soap as a shampoo
and as a bathing soap
Furniture for storage:
E.g.: Using a bed or
centre table with built
in storage
18
Multifunctional items can
be used for several
purposes. Below are some
multifunctional items.
23. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Avoid using single-
use items.
Menstrual Products:
Sanitary pads &
tampons
Disposable
cups, cutlery &
plates
Styrofoam food
containers
Below are some
common single
use items.
19
Plastic straws
and shopping
bags
24. Reduce
Hints & Tips
Purchase items made of
reusable or recyclable
or compostable
materials and
packaging.
Reusable/Recyclable
Materials: Glass,
Metal, Some Plastics.
Examples of
reusable/recyclable
packaging: Soda in glass
bottles or aluminium cans
Compostable Materials:
Paper, Cardboard,
Wood, Cotton.
Examples of compostable
products: Bamboo
toothbrush & combs.
20
25. Reuse
The items can be used for their original purpose, or they
can be used for different functions.
Reuse is the practice of limiting an individual’s waste
generation by using items in their original form multiple
items instead of discarding them4.
Reuse and recycle are not synonyms. In the practice of
reuse, items are not broken down to raw materials while in
recycling, items are broken down to raw materials.
21
26. Reuse
Hints & Tips
Repair and reuse
your items.
Give away or sell your
unwanted items.
Reuse your items
instead of purchasing
new items.
Use your food waste as
animal feed.
Accept or buy
secondhand items.
22
27. Reuse
Hints & Tips
Give away or sell/
collect or buy second-
hand items.
Give items to
family/friends or
charities.
Transact with reputable
second-hand shops to
avoid buying stolen
goods.
Accept hand me
downs from people.
23
Give old newspaper, waste
paper and glass bottles to
food vendors who use them
for packaging. E.g., To akara,
roasted corn and roasted
groundnut vendors.
28. Reuse
Hints & Tips
Repair and reuse your
items.
Learn to repair
items yourself.
Clothing Items:
Clothes, Shoes,
Bags, Watches, etc.
Find several
reputable
repairers.
Home appliances:
TVs, Fans, ACs,
Fridges, etc.
Other: Furniture,
Buckets, Vases, etc.
24
Below are some
commonly repaired
items.
29. Reuse
Hints & Tips
Reuse your items
instead of purchasing
new items.
Used plastic bags
for shopping or
as trash bags.
Reuse plastic
bottles as water
bottles.
Repurpose
old furniture
Plastic/glass jars
as storage or cups
or planters
Old clothes as
sleepwear or
rags
25
30. Reuse
Hints & Tips
Use your food waste
as animal feed.
Ensure to feed animals
correct food based on
their diet type. Carnivores are animals
that can survive by
eating only feed made
of animal matter. E.g.
Cats, Eagles
Herbivores are animals
that can survive by
eating only feed made
of plant matter. E.g.
Goats, Cows
Omnivores are animals
that can survive by eating
both animal and plants.
E.g. Dogs, Chickens.
26
31. Recycle
Recycling is the practice of collecting, sorting and breaking
down solid waste to raw materials that will be used in the
production of new products5.
Converting waste to raw materials is a manufacturing
process. However, individuals contribute to the recycling
process by collecting and sorting recyclable waste.
Not all waste items can be recycled. Commonly recycled
waste items are metal, glass, paper, some plastics,
electronic waste.
27
32. Recycle
Hints & Tips
Collect and sort recyclable
waste by material type.
Give/sell collected recyclables
to waste scavengers.
28
33. Recycle
Hints & Tips
Sort recyclable waste
by material type and
give/sell to waste
scavengers.
Material Streams:
Glass, Metals, Paper,
Cardboard, Plastic
bottles.
Give or sell items to
waste scavengers
(locally known as Mai
Sharas)
29
34. Compost
Composting is the practice of collecting compostable
organic waste and turning them into humus through
decomposition.
Compostable materials are objects and substances that will
safely breakdown to humus in a composting system5.
Composting and biodegradation are not synonyms;
composting is a type of biodegradation. Not all
biodegradable items are compostable.
30
35. Compost
Hints & Tips
Browns Humus
Greens Water Air
Cardboard
Cotton
Dried branches
Dried leaves
Dried twigs
Cut grass
Food prep scraps
Food scraps
Paper
Sawdust
Fruit scraps
Vegetable scraps
31
Source: (6)
36. Compost
Hints & Tips
As mentioned earlier, not all biodegradable items are
compostable. Below are some non-compostable
biodegradable items.
Do Not Compost
Animal bones
Egg contents
**Egg shells are compostable
Fats & oils
Fish
Meat
Pet waste
Coal or Charcoal ash
Chemically treated plants
Diseased plants
Dairy products
32
Source: (7)
37. Compost
Hints & Tips
Sort compostable
organic waste.
Select the most
appropriate home
composting system.
33
Identify nearby
businesses that collect
organic waste to compost.
38. Compost
Hints & Tips
Identify nearby
businesses that
collect organic
waste to compost.
Give compostable
organic waste to
businesses who
collect them.
34
Workout a frequent
collection schedule with
business to avoid
unpleasant smells and
attracting rodents/pests.
39. Compost
Hints & Tips
Select the most
appropriate home
composting system.
Composting at home is
not an option everybody
as not everyone has
outdoor spaces or
balconies that are suitable
for composting.
35
Research different home
composting systems to
select the most appropriate
system for your home.
Before composting at
home, ensure your
home and compound
are suitable for it.
40. Dispose
Disposing is the practice of discarding unwanted items.
After applying all the above principles, individuals should
properly dispose their remaining waste.
36
41. Dispose
Hints & Tips
Securely tie
garbage bags to
avoid spillage.
Dispose garbage
bags and plastic
bottle bricks in bins.
Make plastic bottle bricks: Tightly stuff
your non-reusable and non-recyclable
plastic packaging in plastic bottles.
37
42. Conclusion
I know many Nigerians already apply some of the hints and tips in this
book; Nigerians are undoubtedly avid reusers and repairers (even
though our technicians and tailors aren't known for their reliability).
Unfortunately, not enough of us are doing it to make a significant impact
on our environment.
It is my hope that reading this book gives people more ideas on how to
reduce their waste generation and inspires people to become more eco-
friendly.
38
43. References
1. MasterClass. How to Go Zero Waste: Inside the Zero-Waste
Lifestyle [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2022 May 31]. Available
from: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/zero-waste-
lifestyle-explained
2. Toronto Environmental Alliance. Benefits of Zero Waste
[Internet]. [cited 2022 May 31]. Available from:
https://www.torontoenvironment.org/zerowaste_benefits
3. ISM Waste & Recycling. What is the Waste Hierarchy?
[Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 May 31]. Available from:
https://ismwaste.co.uk/help/what-is-the-waste-hierarchy
4. Clinton County Michigan. Waste Reduction & Reuse
[Internet]. [cited 2022 Jun 3]. Available
from: https://www.clinton-county.org/363/Waste-
Reduction-Reuse
5. Northeast Recycling Council. Northeast States’ Definitions of
Compostable & Recyclable [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2022 May
31]. Available from:
https://nerc.org/documents/Northeast%20States'%20Defini
tions%20of%20Compostable%20&%20Recyclable%20.pdf
6. Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Home Composting Basics
[Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Jun 3]. Available from:
https://ilsr.org/home-composting-basics/
7. US EPA. Composting At Home [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2022
May 31]. Available from:
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
39
44. Bibliography
• Beat Stauffer (no date) Landfills. Available at: https://sswm.info/water-nutrient-cycle/wastewater-
treatment/hardwares/solid-waste/landfills (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Biodegradation - an overview (no date). Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/biodegradation
(Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Clinton County Michigan (no date) Why Recycle. Available at: https://www.clinton-county.org/348/Why-Recycle (Accessed:
31 May 2022).
• European Union (2008) Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on
waste and repealing certain Directives (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L. Available at:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/98/oj/eng (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Federal Facilities Environmental Stewardship & Compliance Assistance Centre (no date) Open Dumping. Available at:
https://www.fedcenter.gov/assistance/facilitytour/solid/dumping/ (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Hari Srinivas (no date) Solid Waste Management Glossary. Available at: http://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/swm-glossary.html
(Accessed: 31 May 2022).
40
45. Bibliography
• International Labour Organisation (2016) What is a green job? Available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-
jobs/news/WCMS_220248/lang--en/index.htm (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Megan McEachern (2018) ‘Could ecobricks be a new solution to Scotland’s plastic waste?’, The Sunday Post, 17 November.
Available at: https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/could-ecobricks-be-the-new-solution-to-scotlands-plastic-waste/ (Accessed:
31 May 2022).
• Muralikrishna, I.V. and Manickam, V. (2017) ‘Chapter One - Introduction’, in Muralikrishna, I.V. and Manickam, V. (eds)
Environmental Management. Butterworth-Heinemann, pp. 1–4. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-811989-1.00001-4.
• National Geographic Society (2022) Humus. Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/humus
(Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• OVO Energy (no date) What does ‘eco-friendly’ really mean? Available at: https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-
guides/what-does-eco-friendly-really-mean (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
• Richmond Hill (2022) Reducing Single-Use Items. Available at: https://www.richmondhill.ca/en/our-services/reducing-single-
use-items.aspx (Accessed: 31 May 2022).
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46. About the Author
Uduma Deborah Alobo is an Environmental Engineer who graduated
from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey in 2017.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she was posted to Abuja Environmental
Protection Board for NYSC in 2018 where she served as an
Environmental Engineering Assistant. It was there that she noticed the
lapses in the city’s solid waste management infrastructure and system.
Since that discovery, she has made it her mission to proffer feasible
individual solutions to the problem of waste management in Nigeria.
She currently runs an educational Instagram page titled "Zero Waste
Naija" where she shares tips, tricks and tools to help Nigerians and
Africans to live more environmentally sustainable lifestyles.
