Nigeria is blessed with abundant iron ores and raw materials for steel production. However, the steel industry today largely depends on scrap iron and steel from households, workshops and other sites to produce new steel. Recycling, which refers to converting wastes into reusable products, is one of the major ways in which the steel industry has been sustained.

    In most parts of the country, notably at Alaba Rago in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, discarded objects such as pieces of iron, condemned Iron or aluminum vessels/pots are evacuated from households by Scavengers. Some of these bent irons are straightened and sold for those that want to do minor repairs that do not require new ones.

    Majority of the scrap iron are loaded into trucks and supplied to steel mills. These steel mills melt the scrap irons and use it to produce new iron rods, steel and pipes. Alongside scrap iron, aluminum and copper are also gathered by the Scavengers although the copper have to be sent to Benin Republic for recycling due to the absence of a Copper Mill in the country.

     Scrap iron and steel recycling has helped to curb one of the major environmental problems in Nigeria which is waste management. The management of Solid waste has been a problem in the country as most of these wastes were usually disposed poorly thus resulting in obstruction of drainage channels, land pollution and water pollution.

     Recycling of steel and iron saves more energy, helps in the conservation of raw materials and minimizes the rate of emission of greenhouse gas. It encourages the maintenance of a healthier and safer environment.

Reference:

Vanguard (2016). Alaba Rago: Where aboki turns waste to wealth.June 18th. Available from: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/alaba-rago-aboki-turns-waste-wealth/html

PHOTO CREDIT:

Ohimain, E. I. (2013). Scrap Iron and Steel Recycling in Nigeria. Greener Journal of Environmental Management and Public Safety. Vol. 2 (1), pp. 001-009.