About
Susty Marshalls is our initiative to improve the welfare, dignity, and visibility of informal waste pickers in Nigeria while advocating for their formal recognition and inclusion in the circular economy conversations shaping the country's environmental future. Every day, thousands of informal waste pickers move through Nigeria's streets, markets, and dumpsites collecting, sorting, and recovering plastic and other recyclable materials that would otherwise end up in the environment. They are critical players in Nigeria's waste management ecosystem, yet their work often goes unseen and unrecognised. The Susty Marshalls Project exists to change that.
Welfare and Wellbeing
The first phase of the project focused on the immediate safety and wellbeing of waste pickers working across Lagos. More than 500 informal waste pickers received direct support, including protective equipment, health services, and capacity building. Participants received gloves, boots, masks, and overalls to improve safety while working. They also took part in health and safety training designed to promote safer working practices, alongside financial literacy sessions aimed at strengthening economic resilience. The project also provided comprehensive medical diagnostic check-ups and free one-year health insurance coverage.
Systemic Inclusion
The second phase focused on longer-term structural change by creating pathways for the formal recognition and integration of waste pickers within Nigeria's waste management ecosystem. This phase included an impact assessment examining the health, financial, and social outcomes experienced by participants from the first phase. It also convened multi-stakeholder dialogues that brought together government agencies, recyclers, NGOs, and the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL). One of the key outcomes was the development of the Susty Marshalls Communique.
Our Impact
- Waste Pickers Supported — 500+
- Protective Equipment Distributed
- Health Screenings Provided
- Multi-stakeholder Dialogue — Convened
Partners
