The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to consider earning money from the waste they generate.

AWAMN president Olugbenga Adebola made the call on Thursday in Lagos during the unveiling of the association’s upcoming conference. According to Mr Adebola, the association is keen on redefining the entire value chain in waste management.

He explained that the circular economy implied not seeing waste as waste but making, using, reusing, recycling, and reinventing waste.

“Currently, we are operating a linear economy, which means that you take your raw material; you make, to produce something; and then you use, and then you waste, which is why you have waste everywhere.

“Now we are transitioning to a circular economy. What we are doing is to foster and fast-track transitioning into a circular economy, which is take, make, use, reuse, recycle, and reinvent,” said Mr Adebola.

He added, “So, the message about the circular economy is that you are not going to generate any waste, and the economic implication is that there will be more businesses and more livelihood for people.

“People will continue to recover the waste; instead of wasting it, they can make money from it.

“Newer innovations will come in, newer technologies that can convert, for instance, bottles, into something else.”

(NAN)