​Evboneka Brand Audit SEDI Hold Coca-Cola Accountable for Plastic Pollution

​For decades, the narrative surrounding plastic pollution in rural and semi-urban Nigerian communities has followed a familiar, exhausting script: public authorities blame residents for "indiscriminate dumping," while multinational corporations quietly profit from the single-use packaging driving the crisis.

​But in Evboneka, a community in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, residents are rewriting the script.

​Through a groundbreaking Ebvoneka Community Waste and Brand Audit, local citizens have transitioned from passive victims of environmental degradation to data-driven advocates. Conducted by the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) under the umbrella of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), this 7-day citizen-science initiative has turned the tables on corporate polluters, naming The Coca-Cola Company as the absolute heaviest contributor to the community's plastic crisis.

​Shifting the Blame: From "Littering Citizens" to Corporate Giants

​During interactive Town Hall sessions and door-to-door community walks, volunteers mobilized to sweep the community's roadsides, commercial zones, and drainage channels. The goal wasn’t just to clean up, but to catalog the trash. By tracking discarded plastics back to their parent corporations, the audit successfully shifted the narrative from public shaming to corporate accountability.

​The audit recovered 16.85 kg of plastic waste, which was meticulously segregated by resin type:

• ​Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) — 69%: Comprising the vast majority of the waste, driven entirely by soft drinks, energy drinks, and bottled water.
• ​High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) — 31%: Consisting of household items like detergent containers, herbicide cans, and jerrycans.

​The Evidence Log: Tracking the Corporate Footprint

​When the branded items were isolated and analyzed, the data revealed that a tiny handful of beverage companies are responsible for the vast majority of the plastic choking Evboneka's ecosystems.

​Plain Text Brand Audit Breakdown

• ​The Coca-Cola Company: 256 items | PET | 6.60 kg
• ​Akogate Groups Limited: 79 items | PET | 1.80 kg
• ​Seven-Up Bottling Company: 70 items | PET | 1.60 kg
• ​Cway Limited: 41 items | PET | 1.20 kg
• ​American Cola: 54 items | PET | 1.00 kg
• ​Monster Energy: 41 items | PET | 1.00 kg
• ​Fresh Yoghurt: 13 items | HDPE | 0.90 kg
• ​Mobil Super: 4 items | HDPE | 0.80 kg
• ​Intercontinental Distillers Limited: 13 items | HDPE | 0.65 kg
• ​Maltina Limited: 12 items | PET | 0.60 kg
• ​Rite Foods Limited: 17 items | PET | 0.40 kg
• ​Roundup Herbicide: 1 item | HDPE | 0.20 kg
• ​Nestle Pure Life: 2 items | PET | 0.10 kg

​Coca-Cola in the Crosshairs

​The definitive finding of the SEDI audit leaves no room for ambiguity: The Coca-Cola Company is the largest contributor of plastic waste in Evboneka.

​With 256 distinct plastic items weighing in at 6.60 kg, Coca-Cola alone is responsible for roughly 39% of the total plastic weight dragged out of Evboneka's environment. The data proves that the global giant’s aggressive, hyper-local distribution network of single-use PET bottles heavily outpaces any local capacity to manage the resulting waste stream.

​The Exploitation of Infrastructure Deficits

​The news angle in Evboneka is not just about the volume of plastic, but where it lands. The audit exposed a systemic flaw: multinational corporations are pushing high-volume single-use plastics into a community suffering from an absolute absence of formal municipal waste infrastructure.

​Without routine government collection, residents are left with no choice but to dump waste into drainage channels or burn it in historical piles. The audit proved that public awareness is not the problem; rather, educating households to separate trash is entirely useless if municipal trucks are non-existent or ultimately dump everything back into unmanaged landfills.

​The Manifesto for Change: Demanding Restitution

​Armed with hard metrics, community leaders are no longer asking for corporate charity; they are demanding structural systemic changes. SEDI and GAIA have laid out an aggressive action plan targeted directly at corporate and state authorities:

• ​Forcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Activists are calling on the Edo State Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to use this audit data to enforce strict legal compliance, forcing top polluters like Coca-Cola to co-fund local community recycling hubs.
• ​Decentralized Sorting Facilities: The state must invest in modular Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to intercept, sort, and bale plastic resources at the LGA level before they clog critical drainage networks and cause seasonal flooding.
• ​Grassroots Plastic Kiosks & Bulk Models: Local businesses are being urged to pivot toward bulk dispensing models (bringing your own container), while community "Drainage Wardens" will police local gutters. Simultaneously, a market-led coalition aims to establish incentive-based collection cages to sell bulk PET back into the recycling value chain.

​Evboneka has proven that localized data can shatter corporate anonymity. The message to multinational beverage brands is clear: if you profit from introducing plastic into vulnerable communities, you must pay for its recovery.

Turning Trash into Treasure: Stakeholders Push for Mandatory Organic Waste Sorting in Nigeria

By Eranga Isaac

In a major push for climate action and food security, experts and policymakers are calling for a radical shift in how Nigeria handles its trash. At a recent workshop in Benin City titled "Organic Waste Diversion: From Dumpsites to Climate Solutions," stakeholders reached a consensus: the era of "throwing everything away" must end.

​The forum was hosted by the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) in partnership with the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN). It brought together over 50 key players—including government officials, waste managers, farmers, and informal waste pickers—to bridge the gap between waste management and environmental protection.

​The Methane Problem

​According to Dr. Tom Aneni, Executive Director of SEDI, the current system is failing both the people and the planet. He highlighted several critical issues:

​Organic Overload: Between 50% and 80% of Nigeria’s municipal waste is organic matter.

​The Methane Threat: When left to rot in open dumpsites, this waste generates methane—a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates global warming.

​Missing Infrastructure: Despite the potential for composting, Nigeria lacks the necessary facilities to turn waste into resources.

​Lack of Segregation: Because households don't separate organic waste from plastic or metal at the source, valuable material is lost to pollution.

​"Organic waste diversion through composting is one of the fastest and lowest-cost ways to mitigate methane in Nigeria," Dr. Aneni noted. "We have an underutilized opportunity to support soil health and sustainable agriculture."

​Innovation and Inclusion

​The workshop highlighted emerging technologies like Black Soldier Fly (BSF) processing, which can transform food scraps into high-quality animal feed and bioenergy. Beyond the environment, Dr. Aneni emphasized that "green" waste initiatives are engines for inclusive job creation, particularly for women and youth.

​A significant point of discussion was the role of informal waste pickers. Currently sidelined, these workers are essential to the recovery of materials and must be integrated into the formal economy to improve their livelihoods and safety.

​The Path Forward: A Call to Action

​The stakeholders concluded the forum with a clear mandate for the Nigerian government:

Policy- Legislating mandatiry waste segregation at the source (homes and businesses);

Infrastructure- Build decentralized, community-based composting hub;

Agriculture- Incentivize the use of organic compost in farming and land restoration; and 

Climate Strategy- Formally integrate organic waste diversion into the national Methane Reduction Plan.

​By moving waste from dumpsites to composting pits, Nigeria can protect public health, rejuvenate its soil, and take a leading role in the global fight against climate change.

Phasing out Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Edo State, SEDI, others converge in Benin for practical action plans

By Isaac Eranga 

Agriculture remains a central pillar of Edo State’s economy, food security, and rural livelihoods. However, the continued and widespread use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) presents a growing threat to human health, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural productivity. These substances are associated with acute poisoning, chronic diseases, ecosystem degradation, soil infertility, and the emergence of pesticide-resistant pests.

Despite increasing global restrictions and international commitments to reduce pesticide-related risks, many HHPs remain readily accessible and widely used in Edo State due to affordability, limited awareness of alternatives, and weak regulatory enforcement. 

To this end, the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) outlines possible risks posed by HHPs, highlights proven and context-appropriate alternatives, and proposes practical, phased actions the Edo State Government can adopt to support a just transition toward safer, more resilient agricultural systems.

According to SEDI through her Executive Director- Dr. Tom Aneni, said "decisive action will reduce preventable health burdens, protect biodiversity, improve food safety, strengthen market competitiveness, and align Edo State with national priorities and global sustainable development commitments.

According to Dr. Aneni, "agriculture remains a cornerstone of Edo State’s economy, food security framework, and rural livelihoods, with a significant proportion of households depending directly or indirectly on crop production and related value chains for their income and sustenance.

" However, the increasing reliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) presents significant risks to human health, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural productivity in the state.

"Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) are chemicals recognized internationally for their high acute or chronic toxicity, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potential, or irreversible health impacts. According to the FAO/WHO International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, HHPs are those acknowledged to present particularly high levels of hazard to health and/or the environment, based on internationally accepted classification systems like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). While HHPs are often viewed as quick solutions to pest problems, their continued use generates hidden costs that undermine public health, degrade ecosystems, and threaten food safety.

"In Edo State, like many other regions in Nigeria, there is a rising concern about the widespread use of these dangerous pesticides, which poses a significant threat to the environment and human health. The state faces several challenges in managing pesticide use effectively, with limited awareness among farmers and a lack of adequate training on the safe handling of chemicals. This misuse has led to widespread environmental degradation, including soil and water contamination, and has contributed to rising cases of pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers and local communities.

"Despite the growing recognition of these risks, the use of HHPs in Edo State persists due to their accessibility, affordability, and perceived effectiveness in pest control. This situation is exacerbated by a lack of adequate regulatory frameworks and monitoring systems to control the use of these toxic chemicals. Furthermore, there is a dearth of alternative pest management practices that are locally appropriate and sustainable, which could significantly reduce the state’s reliance on harmful pesticides.

Speaking about public health implications in HHP use, Dr. Aneni said "Farmers and pesticide applicators face direct exposure during mixing, spraying, and handling of toxic chemicals, often without adequate protective gear. Acute health effects commonly reported include headaches, dizziness, nausea, skin irritation, respiratory distress, and, in severe cases, fatalities.

"Repeated low-dose exposure over time has been associated with chronic health conditions such as cancers, neurological disorders, hormonal disruption, kidney and liver damage, and reproductive health problems. These outcomes reduce productivity, increase healthcare costs, and place long-term pressure on households and health systems.

"Chemical residues on food crops sold in local markets also pose significant food safety risks, exposing consumers, including children and pregnant women, to cumulative dietary exposure".

In the area of environmental and agricultural implications, SEDI boss said highly hazardous pesticides adversely affect non-target organisms, including pollinators, natural pest predators, birds, aquatic species, and soil organisms. He said the decline of these species weakens ecosystem services essential for crop production and resilience.

"The destruction of beneficial soil microorganisms disrupts nutrient cycling, reduces soil organic matter, and contributes to declining soil fertility. Over time, this increases dependence on external inputs and reduces yield stability.

"Runoff, leaching, and improper disposal of pesticides contaminate surface and groundwater sources, threatening aquatic ecosystems and community water supplies. Excessive pesticide use also accelerates pest resistance and resurgence, locking farmers into a cycle of escalating chemical use and rising production costs".

On the socio-economic implications, SEDI has it that the treatment of pesticide-related illnesses increases household and public healthcare expenditures, diverting resources from other development priorities. In addition, failure to meet food safety and residue standards limits access to premium domestic and international markets, particularly for export-oriented crops.

"Women and children are disproportionately affected, as women often participate in farm labor and produce trading, while children living near farms face increased exposure due to biological vulnerability and limited protection".

In suggesting ways for viable and sustainable alternatives to Highly Hazardous Pesticides, Dr. Aneni has this to say:  "Transitioning away from HHPs does not require sacrificing productivity. Instead, it involves adopting integrated and knowledge-based approaches that improve pest control while reducing risks.

"Integrated Pest Management emphasizes prevention, monitoring, and ecological balance, with chemical pesticides used only as a last resort. Biological control methods using natural predators, parasitoids, and microbial agents offer targeted pest suppression with minimal environmental impact.

"Cultural practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, timely planting, resistant varieties, and field sanitation reduce pest pressure and enhance system resilience. Mechanical and physical tools, including insect nets, pheromone traps, sticky traps, and hand-picking, are particularly effective in smallholder and vegetable systems.

"Botanical and low-toxicity pesticides derived from neem, garlic, pepper, and chrysanthemum degrade rapidly, reduce exposure risks, and offer opportunities for local production and enterprise development. Where chemical control is unavoidable, the use of lower-risk products combined with proper training and protective equipment significantly reduces harm".

SEDI gave the following Strategic Actions and Policy Recommendations:

Firstly, Regulatory and Policy Measures. It was recommended that the Edo State Government conducts a state-wide inventory of Highly Hazardous Pesticides to identify commonly used products, usage patterns, and high-risk areas. A phased and time-bound HHP phase-out plan should be developed, prioritizing substances that are internationally banned or restricted.

SEDI reiterated that strengthening market surveillance, licensing of agrochemical vendors, and enforcement of labeling and safety standards is essential. Incentives such as grants, procurement support, and tax relief should be introduced to promote safer alternatives and local biopesticide production.

Secondly, Capacity Building and Technical Support. SEDI emphasized that caling up farmer training through strengthened extension services and Farmer Field Schools across all senatorial districts is critical. Partnerships with academic institutions and research centers should be established to adapt pest management solutions to local crops and agro-ecological conditions.

Demonstration and learning farms should be developed to showcase profitable, HHP-free production systems and build farmer confidence in alternative approaches.

Furthermore,, Stakeholder Engagement and Implementation Pathways. SEDI recommended public awareness campaigns using radio, television, and community forums should educate farmers, traders, and consumers on pesticide risks and safer food production. A multi-stakeholder task force involving agriculture, environment, health, academia, farmer groups, and civil society organizations should be established to guide implementation.

Finally, Systems for the safe collection and disposal of obsolete pesticides and empty containers should be introduced to prevent environmental contamination and accidental reuse.

Protect our children by implementing the Children’s Amendment to the Minamata Convention, SEDI calls on Nigeria government

By Isaac Eranga 

Knowing the need to protect the most vulnerable population groups from amalgam, and the agreement of Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, to accelerate the phase down of dental amalgam use, Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has called on Nigeria government to implement the Children’s Amendment to the Minamata Convention, which calls for the phase-out of dental amalgam for dental treatment of deciduous teeth, patients under 15 years and pregnant and breastfeeding women. 

This call was made by the Executive Director of SEDI- Dr. Tom Aneni  while answering questions from the SOCIAL REPORTERS NEWS SERVICE in Benin city. 

According to Dr. Aneni, dental amalgam contains 45-55% mercury which is disastrous to the environment, harmful to dental workers, and a health risk to dental patients, especially children and young women, and has been proven to be toxic to tissues and organs in humans. He said Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can damage children’s developing brains and neurological systems even before they are born.

“Dental amalgam’s mercury poisons fish which children eat, causing brain damage to some of them. It is horrible for them. We must switch to the alternative dental materials—which are non-polluting and tooth friendly.”

"The world now recognizes dental amalgam as a major environmental pollutant due to concerns about mercury-related health risks. It pollutes the air, water and land with potential to adversely affect agriculture and wildlife. Findings have indicated that mercury vapor is released during the insertion, condensation, carving, and removal of amalgam restorations. Then, any dental clinic that continues to use dental amalgam will expose patients/accompanying family members/friends and dental staff to mercury vapour. The European Parliament recently (2024) voted overwhelmingly (98%) to ban the use of dental amalgam by 1 January 2025.  This law will also ban amalgam manufacture, import, and export". 

"We therefore use this medium to join all key stakeholders in the fight against use of dental amalgam to call on all Nigeria government to end amalgam use by 30th June, 2026, and to ban amalgam imports from dental product manufacturers and non-European Western governments by 31st December, 2025.  We also urge the government to issue a public health advisory to all  dentists, dental training institutions and the public to discontinue the use of dental amalgam in children and other vulnerable populations in order to protect public health and comply with the decisions reached at COP 4.2 of the Minamata convention on mercury to which Nigeria is a signatory. 

"We also urge Nigeria government to initiate as a matter of national urgency the process of legislation to restrict the import, use and distribution of dental amalgam in Nigeria.

“The Minamata Convention on Mercury, since 2023, bans amalgam for children and for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The law must be enforced by our government—and dentists must obey it.”

"Environmental pollution is responsible for human disease in 25% of the population worldwide; but in Sub-Saharan Africa the percentage is higher at 35%. Any clinic that continues to use dental amalgam is not practicing evidence-based 21st century dentistry, which prioritizes minimally-invasive intervention such as use of mercury-free fillings that can preserve more tooth structure. 

"Despite the  ongoing concerns regarding the potential toxicity of mercury and the successful model campaigns to implement the transition to mercury-free dentistry and to demonstrate feasibility and advantages of alternatives to amalgam have been executed in Edo State, Nigeria; Enugu State, Nigeria; Odisha State, India; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province; Pakistan; Ben Arrous Region, Tunisia; and Mombassa County, Kenya, many dental institutions continue to maintain amalgam as the material of choice for undergraduate simulation laboratory and clinical dental training of dental students", said Dr. Tom Aneni. 

Also speaking,  President of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry- Dr. Charlie Brown, said Mercury is the most vapourous of the heavy metals, and those vapors toxify the dental ofce. It is too big a risk for young women dental workers. Dental clinics should become mercury-free, now.

“The alternatives to amalgam are now technically superior to amalgam. Amalgam is a tooth unfriendly historical relic from the 19th century.

"Manufacturers are exiting making amalgam—they know they have legal risks. The amalgam supply is running out.”

“Our dental school needs to be mercury-free. Alternatives are effective and available. Mercury-free dentistry is 21st century dentistry", said Dr. Charlie Brown. 

Edo 2024 governorship election: Edo Man O' War unveil political culture of non-violence sensitization campaign

As part of effort in ensuring peace and non-violence in the forthcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State, the Edo State Command of Man O'War Nigeria has unveiled a political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign.

The campaign was unveiled during the 2024 State Commanders Retreat and Workshop held in Benin City. 

Unveiling the political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign for Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Election, the Edo State Commandant- Amb. Odunze C. Eberechukwu said the intention was to sensitize citizens, aspirants and political parties on the need to embrace peace before, during and after the 2024 Edo governorship elections.

Amb. Odunze C. Eberechukwu, AISLT, DSM, FTSA

"We want to see how we can sensitize these politicians and political parties that even as they go about their political aspirations, there is need to eschew violence and embrace peace. The Edo 2024 governorship elections should be a thing that other states should emulate. They should be able to set a standard for other states when it comes to electoral processes.

"The citizens need to know that a lot of the the atrocities that took place during elections were committed by the citizens, particularly young persons, and not the politicians themselves majority of whom have their families resident in overseas countries. 

"This campaign of political culture of non-violence is also intended to avert political apathy in Edo State. This is because past experiences show a situation where a lot of persons came out to vote and for one reason or the other, who they anticipated to win did not emerge, thereby feeling discouraged. We want them to know that at times you win and at times you lose.

"We intend to engage the various religious bodies, political parties, market women, youths in the street, student's groups, media houses, etc", he said.

While delivering a presentation, the Deputy State Commandant Training, Operations and Rescue- DMC Onoha Uchena Kelly highlighted the importance of Commanders and members training in the discharge of their duties. According to him, one cannot embark on a journey he or she don't know about, hence the need for training and retraining.

"Training can be both technical and vocational. The technical training include First Aid, Fire Fighting, Compass Work, Foot Tracking. While the vocational training include Agriculture, Piggery, Fisheries, Carpentary, Sewing, Tie and Dye, etc.

"You are also obligated to involve in social engagement activities such as trafic control, crowd control, environmental sanitation, etc", he said.

Presenting a paper on Leadership, the Deputy State Commandant Administration and Logistics- DMC Ernest Abebe defined leadership as the way a leader directs, coordinates, and pilot the affairs of an organisation in achieving the organisational goal(s).

Speaking about the qualities of a leader, DMC Abebe said a leader "must be accountable, courageous, honest, reliable, determined, humble, Intelligent/neat, tolerance, discipline, foresight, exemplary, loyal, God-fearing, resourceful, etc".

SEDI brands audit 2024 reveals Cocacola and Pepsi as top plastic polluters in Nigeria

... Calls on the Managements to reduce and redesign their plastic cans

By Isaac Eranga, PAMHSE

The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has called on the managements of  Cocacola and Pepsi to reveal, reduce and redesign their plastic cans as part of their extended producer responsibility and catalyzing zero waste initiatives. This to SEDI, would largely help to reduce plastics in Nigeria and its deleterious effect on human health and environment.

This call was contained in a press statement released by SEDI's Communication department following the organisation's 2024 plastic brand audit exercise carried out in January, 2024.

According to the statement, "plastics were collected out door in an estate of 1000 hectares of land housing offices, houses, religious houses (Churches and mosques), schools and commercial centres. The volunteers were recruited and trained by SEDI staff following BFFP training guide. Training videos were  utilized and emphasis was laid on health and safety in the plastic collection process. 

"Detailed planning and coordination meetings were held. During the designated period, volunteers  collected plastics which were later sorted and counted. Photographs were taken and proceedings of the event were recorded for social media and the press.

"The objective of the plastic brand audit was to reveal the top polluting companies trashing our communities with their single-use plastic waste.

"The most common plastic items were: plastic PET bottles and bottle caps. The most common types of plastic were: PET and HDPE. The top polluting companies, whose brands were found on the most plastic waste, were: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Suntory Beverage and foods, and CWAY Foods and Beverages. The plastic brand audit found Cocacola and Pepsi to be the top plastic polluters in the exercise", the statement posited.

Eradicating Plastic Pollution In Africa: SEDI Calls For Action

By Isaac Eranga

In 2022, the global plastic pollution treaty was adopted by 175 countries at an annual conference held by the United Nations Environment program (UNEP). The treaty according to UNEP, was aimed at tackling the entire life-cycle of plastic, with the primary goal of developing circular economy that break the region of single-use plastics. 

This has led people from different countries of the world to devise myriad of methods in tackling the global crisis of plastic pollution. Various countries have enacted restrictions on different types of plastic. These ranges from updated recycling facilities, reduction in plastic use, development of bio-plastics, and investment in alternatives. According to globalcitizen.org, "communities have staged clean-up efforts to remove plastic waste from coastlines, rivers and landscapes. Technologies have been invented to trap microplastics and massive machines have been mobilised to clear away ocean plastic".

"But the problem keeps getting worse. That's because these efforts have been fragmented. Without global coordination, the plastic industry will continue to evolve and expand, plastic consumption will become more common and diffuse, and plastic pollution will become more widespread, contaminating the farthest reaches of the planet".

"And despite efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic products as well as countries who have banned plastic use in some instances, experts predict that plastic production will increase by 40% in the next ten years", the Guardian reported.

In Nigeria, the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has been playing a tremendous role in reducing the use plastic, thereby contributing to the Global Plastic Treaty.

Firstly, SEDI has coordinated plastic brand audits in 2021, 2022 and 2023 in Nigeria cited in http://sedinig.org/gallery/, with Coca-Cola and Pepsico being the leading brands of plastic waste polluters.

Secondly, SEDI coordinates a campaign on ‘Pathway to Municipal Waste Management in Edo State’ campaigning for a non-incineration policy on waste incineration in landfills, cited in http://sedinig.org/sedi-waste-management-communique/), with continuous engagement with waste pickers, government officials, media and other stakeholders in Edo State.

Furthermore, SEDI facilitates waste pickers in Edo State working towards formalization and integration of waste pickers. SEDI has facilitated the ‘Otofure Dumpsite Waste pickers Constitution’ for waste pickers (http://sedinig.org/waste-pickers-constitution/).

In addition, SEDI is Co-chair, Circular Economy Benin-City club: Devoted to the design and implementation of circular economy strategies in the plastic sector with a pilot plastic waste collection, recycling and campaign programme using the circular economy business model to reduce plastic pollution and create green jobs.

Finally, SEDI works on zero waste and is using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in managing and treatment of biodegradable waste such as kitchen waste. This is a promising and sustainable way to manage organic waste generated from our homes, schools, farms, and industries.

SEDI has been in the fore front of media advocacy for the Global Plastic Treaty with coordinated media articles in Nigeria. SEDI supports global campaigns through sign ups to letters supporting a future free from plastic pollution and demonstrate civil society power. 

The aim of SEDI is to amplify the campaign in reducing plastic use and increasing the percentage of plastic waste recycled. Currently, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled. Meaning that 91% ends up in landfills, in oceans, and in the bellies of marine life.

SEDI however recommends the following:

- plastic production reduction

- chemical transparency

- ensuring mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR)

- commitment to put regulations in place to operationalise policies

- necessitating the push for more upstream measures

- the inclusion of waste pickers, indigenous peoples and frontline communities, under-represented African countries, women and youth

- championing social and human rights aspects of the plastics treaty and sustainable, roburst financial mechanisms for the treaty.