Germany has started a digital marketplace for the circular economy in Lagos state to support the development of the nation’s waste value chain.
The Circulary digital platform, supported by the Chambers for GreenTech (DIHK Service GmbH) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), aims to address significant challenges brought on by the state’s rapid urbanization and waste management while fostering cooperation between Nigerian and German businesses.
The issues of overpopulation, inadequate infrastructure, transportation, electricity access, water supply, and waste management in Lagos state are apparent, according to Timo Pleyer, a representative of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria.
He said that just 30% of the million tonnes of residential waste produced annually in the state is effectively collected and treated. According to Pleyer, the German Industry and Commerce delegation in Nigeria conducted a thorough analysis of Lagos State’s waste sector in order to address the problem. This led to the implementation of a circular economy digital marketplace that aims to connect and streamline every aspect of the state’s waste value chains.
According to Pleyer, the digital platform will help by establishing a local free market for recyclables and recyclates for all forms of garbage. These features include information centers, matchmaking algorithms, and a marketplace similar to eBay for recyclables.
In order to attract investment in the area, he added, it will also ease business relationships, make it easier to acquire Made-in-Germany technologies and goods, offer chances for market entry and market expansion in both Nigeria and Germany, as well as give access to trustworthy information.
Weert Borner, the Federal Republic of Germany’s consul general in Lagos, said that as part of its enhanced engagement with Nigeria to make businesses considerably greener, the German government has brought the digital circular economy marketplace.
While the German government has implemented the project in a number of nations to ensure environmental sustainability, starting with Lagos State, which is one of the largest economies in Africa, it is also executing it in Nigeria.
The thriving economy and dynamic ecosystem of Lagos, according to Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), present exciting market potential for the promotion of sustainable waste management solutions.
She claimed that while the government works to advance sustainable development and open up markets, the circular economy is gaining ground in Nigeria.
According to Fawase, the circular economy promotes recycling, reuse, and regeneration as well as employment creation and the switch to renewable energy sources for a sustainable future in order to minimize waste and maximize the value of resources.
The platform would increase publicity and encourage more effective garbage collection, which will lead to waste segregation, according to Olugbenga Adebola, national president of the Association of garbage Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN).
