With right waste management architecture, more people will leave Lagos for Ibadan —Fasuhanmi, Mottainai COO

Oluwaseun Fasuhanmi, the Chief Operating Officer of Mottainai Recycling Ltd, the Waste Management Company for Oyo State, in this interview with PAUL OMOROGBE, talks about the key roles that data, technology and the human factor play in waste management, and her company’s goal of implementing a waste management architecture in Oyo State.

What is Mottainai all about?

Mottainai is a tech-driven waste management company that focuses on integrating technology, data, and AI into sustainable waste management practices because we’re not talking about waste management in the old sense. We’re talking about resource recovery, circular waste management, and social inclusion, aimed at creating a positive environmental and socio-economic impact. We believe in harnessing the potential of waste as a resource rather than simply disposing of it. Hence our name, “Mottainai,” which is a Japanese slang term that expresses regret over waste and conveys the idea of not letting anything go to waste. More importantly, we understand that in a culture whereby we regard waste as a negative thing, Mottainai is anchoring a new perspective of how to effectively recover resources from the negative impression given to waste.

We recognise the challenges that come with urbanisation and population growth, which lead to increased waste generation. We are looking at developing and implementing risk management strategies, policies, initiatives, innovation and that’s where technology comes in.  We have a vision of technology and data as crucial tools in effectively planning and managing waste in a circular manner. Mottainai aims to create a sustainable waste management system that considers environmental, social, and economic factors.

Can you tell us the scope of your work?

Mottainai’s scope of work encompasses the entire waste management value chain, from collection to disposal, with a focus on sustainability, technology integration, social inclusion, and community engagement.

We are responsible for implementing the entire Waste Management Architecture in the region, covering all 33 local governments of Oyo State. We operate from the city of Ibadan and our services extends to the wider Oyo State. We have a comprehensive approach to waste management aiming to implement an entire Waste Management Architecture for the state. This involves designing and implementing a comprehensive system for waste collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal.

By integrating Sustainable Waste Management practices into the culture and lifestyle of the citizens of Oyo State, we are able to promote resource recovery, recycling and waste reduction strategies. We emphasize the concept of waste as a valuable resource that should be harnessed to its fullest potential.

We recently launched our “Mottainai” app which enables residents to request specific waste management services, providing a dynamic and user-friendly approach to waste management. Technology also plays a role in data-driven decision-making and efficient service delivery. So, you know, we’re getting to an age whereby everybody has  access to the web, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Snapchat. So why can’t we take that same innovation that we put into social engagement activity into waste management? For us at Mottainai, we believe that AI is the future in waste management.

Let’s talk about the problems you met on ground and how you intend to solve them.

Oyo State is estimated to have a growing population of about nine million plus. Ibadan, right now, is the one of the fastest growing city in Nigeria and West Africa. It is growing at a population rate of about 0.65% per annum.

Some of the significant challenges in waste management in Ibadan that we encountered was the lack of adequate data.  Accurate and up-to-date data is essential for effective planning, resource allocation, and decision-making in waste management. The absence of comprehensive data on waste generation rates, composition, and disposal practices can hinder the development of appropriate waste management strategies.

Other challenges are insufficient waste collection and disposal infrastructure – the inadequacies of previous existing capacity to effectively provide service is another major challenge. These raise questions as to whether the present capacity can provide service efficiently.  Would that capacity be enough to deliver as at when due without creating a backlog or gap in service? Another challenge is adequate funding and financial constraints, low levels of environmental awareness and education, open dumping and littering and so on.

With the right waste management architecture, we would soon witness somewhat depopulation in some highly commercial cities because Ibadan would strike a balance in terms of work life, livelihood, cost of living and so on.

Our coming to Oyo State was premised on driving recycling as a sustainable waste management strategy. The continuous cycle of collecting and dumping at the landfills is not sustainable! Can we afford to continue with landfilling? What is the cost of providing remedial work to mitigate against environmental degradation from landfilling?  What is the economic benefit of building more landfills rather than developmental infrastructure / basic amenities?

As a tech-driven company, data has always guided our decision in anchoring recycling in Oyo. It is an untapped resource provided one is able to develop a more effective structure for resource recovery. Coincidentally, we decided to come up with a proposal for the state government, at a time when Oyo State was shopping for an apt solution for its waste management challenges; and we just walked in to that situation. We presented our proposal and after rigorous technical and financial assessment within the procurement process, we were shortlisted and selected as a preferred partner to the Oyo State Government.

The Oyo State roadmap of the next five years agenda was in tandem with our timeline and that was how the Zero Waste Initiative was birthed as this aligned with His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde’s agenda and objective of “zero tolerance to waste in Oyo State” and we believe that it was a marriage made in heaven.

Like in any structure, when there are changes there is obviously going to be a lot of rigour, I have to be honest about that! People are used to a particular pattern, they’re used to a particular way of life, a mindset. The challenge would be to change this mindset. For instance, an adage I learnt in Oyo, and I will translate for you in English ‘I cannot buy “eko” with my money and I should still use my money to dispose of the leaves.’ There is an ideology behind that saying. Hence the need for reorientation, which will involve consistent advocacy and enlightenment. It’s a nonstop process. So there’s a perception that one has to change from the waste generators to the waste creators to even the stakeholders – government, individuals, NGOs is vast.

I must say the challenges are not just technical in nature. There’s also the human factor – the perception regarding waste by the citizens of Oyo! There is a paradigm shift that must take place. And it’s important that we identify that and we have identified that. Hence we are implementing the right strategies, policies, and initiatives to address all.

What exactly do you expect from the people of Oyo State?

Mottainai expects cooperation from the people of Ibadan and Oyo State in embracing the change and adopting a better approach to waste management. Ibadan is a beautiful city. Oyo is a fountain of opportunities and essentially a fundamental bedrock of my culture as a Yoruba woman.  I am keen on encouraging active participation from various stakeholders, including recyclers and investors, to contribute to the development of the waste management sector.

Overall, we recognise the potential of the waste management value chain and harnessing its benefits can contribute to a circular economy, resource efficiency, job creation, and environmental sustainability.

We’ve seen what happened with Visionscape that came in to take over the entire waste management in Lagos and WestAfricaNRG in Oyo State. Things happened, and they are no longer there. In view of this, what’s your plan? Will all these things go to zero once the current governor is no longer in office?

That’s a very good question. Waste is a factor of human activity. The best solution is once we address the perception, the human aspect; and I trust, it doesn’t matter who’s involved in the next dispensation. The overall objective of any government for its people is the desire to attract economic growth through environmental, social and financial stability at all cost. Our strategy is is to put that structure in place where people of Oyo understand their role as citizens, the impact of their activities, and their participatory right to ensure that the environment is maintained in the best possible way.

We have no fear as we believe that an apt waste management legacy would outlive any administration once the right structure in place, which is what we have seen in many cases. Whether it’s in Lagos or Ogun, Kigali or Ghana, whatever the structure is in play, the human factor is a key component. Once people understand their role, then they are able to address and retrofit  that role into the present situation.

With waste management, it’s always going to be a question of government commitment. I must commend His Excellency for singularly driving that commitment which is resounding in the policy direction, collective action and framework. We firmly believe with the right structures, policies, and public understanding, the commitment to waste management will transcend individual governments and become ingrained in the society’s values and practices. The goal is to create a lasting legacy that outlives any particular administration.

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