Lagos roll out circular economy project for grassroots impact

As part of its ongoing drive to deepen grassroots participation in sustainable development, Lagos State is set to commence the Eco-Circulate project, a circular economy initiative aimed at building climate education.

The Eco-Circulate project, designed to promote waste valorisation, responsible consumption, climate literacy, and inclusive economic participation across the megacity, is set to be held in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Titilayo Oshodi, special adviser to the Lagos State Government on Climate Change and Circular Economy, said in a statement that the project reflects the state’s commitment to building a more sustainable and innovative Lagos.

“We must move beyond linear models of growth and strengthen systems that keep resources in productive use. Through this initiative, we are positioning Lagos for long-term economic and environmental resilience,” she said.

The initiative leverages a mix of education, community engagement, and incentives to reward climate-friendly choices, positioning circular practices as a socially impactful subsidy model that delivers both environmental and economic benefits.

Beyond the exchange of recyclable materials for incentives, Oshodii noted that the programme seeks to drive long-term behavioural change by increasing awareness and adoption of circular economy principles at the community level, reinforcing grassroots ownership of environmental responsibility across Lagos State.

“We must begin to reflect on this intervention within our broader economic trajectory. Its value will not be measured by financial returns to communities alone, but by the quality of data, the strength of enterprise growth, and the extent to which it addresses environmental pressures and strengthens governance in Lagos,” she added.

Eco-Circulate forms part of the Lagos State Government’s broader Circular Economy agenda, aimed at transitioning the state from a linear “collect and dump” model to a sustainable system that creates economic value, protects the environment, and improves quality of life for residents.

Since its inception, the initiative has been successfully activated in several communities and locations across Lagos, including Ayobo, Badagry, Ajah, Surulere, Onigbongbo, and Maryland, among several others.

The initiative has also delivered measurable environmental outcomes, diverting significant volumes of recyclable materials away from landfills, drainage systems, and waterways.

For instance, over 40,000 tons of recyclable waste have been collected and valorised across multiple communities, contributing to an estimated 33 million tons of CO₂e emissions avoided.

According to Oshodi, this edition will incorporate climate literacy for children, a dedicated component designed to inspire children aged 8–10 to adopt practical, climate-smart actions in their daily lives and communities, while fostering a strong sense of environmental responsibility from an early age.

“Residents of Ojokoro and surrounding communities are encouraged to come with their sorted recyclable materials, including plastics, PET bottles, metals, cans, cartons, textiles, and paper waste, which can be exchanged for cash, data, airtime, food items, clean cooking gas, and other rewards,” she noted.

The event will be held on Sunday, February 28, for a one-day community outreach programme designed to inform, engage and activate residents to participate actively in the circular economy.