Sahara Group Foundation’s new 1,000T recycling hub expands packaging waste recovery to Northern Nigeria

NIGERIA – Sahara Group Foundation has commissioned a new recycling hub in Masaka, Nasarawa State, extending its waste-to-wealth initiative to Northern Nigeria while targeting over 1,000 tonnes of packaging recyclables and impacting 2,000 livelihoods across collection and sorting value chains.

The Sahara Go Recycling Hub, delivered in partnership with the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority, represents a major expansion of structured recycling access to communities in the northern part of the country. 

The initiative converts waste management into economic opportunity by diverting recyclable packaging materials including plastics, paper, metals and glass from landfills. 

Nigeria produces an estimated 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, yet formal recycling infrastructure remains concentrated in Lagos and southern cities. 

Plastic packaging waste alone accounts for 2.5 million tonnes yearly, with less than 30 percent recycled nationally. Unlike printing ink containers which often contain residual solvents requiring special handling, the Masaka hub focuses on clean, source-separated household packaging.

Why 1,000 Tonnes of Recycled Packaging Matters for Northern Nigeria’s Circular Economy

The Masaka facility addresses a critical gap where institutional waste management capacity is thinner and informal dumping more prevalent. 

Since its launch, the Sahara Go Recycling Initiative has processed over 1,000 tonnes of recyclable materials while directly and indirectly impacting more than 2,000 livelihoods across collection, sorting, logistics and community enterprise value chains. 

Chidilim Menakaya, Director of Sahara Group Foundation, said that Masaka represented an important next step in expanding access to sustainable waste management across Nigeria.

She explained that through the Sahara Go Recycling initiative, the foundation was showing how collaboration could unlock cleaner communities, stronger livelihoods, and shared prosperity.

How Nasarawa State Turns Waste Packaging into Household Income

Ishaku Ibrahim, Director of Waste Management at the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority, described the project as a timely intervention that would strengthen responsible waste management and create economic opportunities for residents. 

He said that the hub brought a practical solution to waste challenges in Masaka and surrounding communities, creating a pathway for residents to participate in a cleaner future while deriving economic value from recyclable packaging materials. 

Ibrahim added that the authority was proud to partner with Sahara Group Foundation on this important step for Nasarawa State. 

The initiative operates by establishing physical collection hubs where households bring sorted packaging materials in exchange for cash, turning discarded bottles, cartons and containers into direct income.

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