The Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE Foundation International) is advocating proper food waste sorting and disposal to promote cleaner communities.
The foundation made the call in commemoration of the 2026 World Cleanup Day (WCD), observed on Sept. 20, with community activities held across the weekend.
The 2026 WCD is facilitated globally by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
The 2026 WCD is celebrated with the theme “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities”, highlighting the global food waste crisis and its environmental impact.
According to the foundation, food waste accounts for between eight and 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
It also places pressure on urban sanitation and waste management systems, particularly in rapidly growing cities such as Lagos.
In commemoration of the day, FABE Foundation members and volunteers on Saturday embarked on a cleanup and sensitisation exercise in Magodo, Lagos.
The exercise focused on educating residents on the importance of proper food waste sorting, disposal and composting.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mrs Temitope Okunnu, said the advocacy was in line with the 2026 WCD theme.
“Today, we are commemorating World Cleanup Day with the whole world. So, this is our own way of commemorating the day.
“We are fulfilling our civic responsibility here in Lagos, Nigeria, but most importantly, we are passing a strong message to Nigerians.
“The message is about the importance of proper waste management and sorting, particularly because of this year’s World Cleanup Day theme.
“This year’s theme emphasises food waste. Where does our food waste come from? From our homes and restaurants.
“Data has indicated that over 60 per cent of food waste actually ends up in our dump sites,” she said.
Okunnu said food waste from kitchens, restaurants, hotels, farms and gardens, including organic waste generally, ends up at the Olusosun dumpsite in Lagos.
“We have placed so much focus on plastic waste, of which I am an advocate for zero waste and non-single plastics use for years.
“But it is now time for us to look inward and find out what the most significant waste generally generated by people is, and it is food waste.
“So, it is important, and the theme is coming at a very important time to emphasise how individuals can take responsibility.
“This applies to households, restaurants, hotels, schools, offices and markets in ensuring proper disposal of their food waste.
“So, today we have come out as FABE Foundation members and volunteers all over Nigeria and even abroad.
“We are talking to our neighbours, homeowners, hotels, restaurants, markets and people on the street about the importance of food waste sorting and proper disposal.
“We are taking this advocacy to local food traders, ‘Mama Put’, hawkers, fruit traders and others on proper food waste disposal,” Okunnu said.
She said most food waste generated by roadside traders ends up in canals and drainages, contributing to unpleasant odours and environmental degradation.
“Most food waste from these roadside traders ends up in our canals and drainages, which increasingly makes Lagos smell badly.
“These food wastes they dispose of indiscriminately are defacing our communities, the city and our country.
“And so it is important at this time that we should begin to do door-to-door sensitisation and advocacy to show people how they can be part of the solution.
“Everybody is a solution provider from the comfort of their homes, but they have never actually taken a broom or gone beyond the norms to tell their neighbours what to do.
“So, we want to assume they do not know what to do. We have come here to show the people what to do.
“We are advocating. We are sensitising. We are doing a practical demonstration of how to sort their organic waste responsibly.
“And we are here at the Goshen Garden in Magodo. We have also incorporated the gardeners because we will give you all the solutions,” she said.
The environmentalist also stressed the need to link households, gardeners and farmers in the production and distribution of compost manure from food waste.
“We want to serve as a link between the gardeners, farmers and the community to deliver compost from food waste.
“We are creating a compost bin in the area, so residents around Magodo can drop their food waste to be transformed into compost at the Goshen Garden.
“We also have available compost tumblers for residents to store their food waste and turn them into compost for their private gardens and agro-cultivation.
“Residents, hotels and restaurants can contact FABE for compost tumblers at affordable prices, so everybody can begin to compost their waste,” the expert said.
