Welcome to Environmental Checkers Ltd.

Working Together to Restore Our Environment

Environmental Checkers LTD (ECL) is working to redefine the statusquo of our community by Implementing a 3-R Primary Objective:

Recycle Waste

The unfolding reality is mega-cities – notably in the global south – are experiencing poverty-driven urbanisation characterised by socio-economic survival strategies and growing informal sectors. Arguably, given its deep historical roots the phenomena is not new. However, new waves of informalisation are emerging with people relying on livelihoods beyond the purview of state regulation. Research conducted in one global south city showed the waste collection rate was between 50% and 80%, with informal services ranking high in refuse collection from some areas.

Our strategy is underpinned by the SMART concept:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Relevant

Time-based

Backed by local and international professionals with wide-ranging skills, ECL’s functional areas include climate change adaptation/mitigation solutions, waste management, sanitation, and public sensitisation through raising awareness.

Our Current Projects

Informal waste picking – AKA scavenging – is specialised work fraught with health and safety hazards. In this regard waste pickers are vulnerable: likely to suffer eye irritations, respiratory, and skin diseases brought on by particulates released through volatile organic compounds (VOCs). At ECL, we are inclined to think informal waste pickers provide invaluable economic, social and environmental benefits. Unequivocally, a better deal or arrangement is most urgent.

Did you know it takes more than 100 years for one End-of-Life Tyre (ELT) to biodegrade? Each year 10 million or more ELTs pose a direct threat to Nigeria’s economy, public health and safety. Given their void space, ELTs dumped in landfills are subject to trapping methane gas, which can cause them to become buoyant and rise to the surface.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

Whilst environmental considerations must reflect in economic and developmental decisions, ecological decisions must be part of socio-economic development. Hence, ECL’s mission and vision are well-aligned and consistent with a list of goals enshrined in the SDGs:

To improve sanitation and public health, as well as quality living standards.
To proffer meaningful adaptation/mitigation solutions for tackling climate change.
To help raise the level of public awareness and manage waste through best practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you dispose of trash when there is no trash receptacle nearby?

If the trash is made of plastic, cut it with a saw, knife, or scissors into pieces small enough to fit in a trash bag and dispose of it with the rest of your waste material. In the event that the trash is a bottle, you may opt to use the 3-R principle: Reduce, Recycle, or Reuse.

Should people who litter be fined? How might you see to it that such happens?

This aspect is largely a function of local law. In many climes or advanced countries, littering in public is an offence. If you see someone littering or performing an illegal dumping act, you can report to your local authority, which can investigate and take action. In the case of illegal dumping, your chances of success are maximised when you are able to produce hard evidence of the illegal act. This could be achieved by using a phone or camera to capture images or video. In this regard, be discrete or cautious.

A citizen’s arrest is an arrest effected by a private citizen rather than the typical arrest made by a police officer or in this context, a sanitation officer. Citizen arrests are lawful in certain limited situations, such as when a private citizen personally witnesses a violation and then detains the offender. Effecting a citizen’s arrest has some grey areas and is therefore best executed by someone with a proactive orientation or disposition.

Do you recycle? What kinds of items?

Recycling benefits every community and the environment. Recyclable items include used tyres, newspapers, magazines and mixed paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, rigid plastic products, metal containers, including tin, aluminium, electronic appliances, steel cans and even food waste.

Do you take any actions to conserve energy? Can you give some examples?

Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them. You can use energy-intensive appliances less by performing household tasks manually, such as hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer or washing dishes by hand.

Do you try to purchase environment-benign products? Can you give some examples?

Environment-benign products are sustainable market-oriented products with significantly reduced negative externalities, i.e. product development processes structured in a way that considers impacts on the environment throughout their life cycle. Classic examples include furniture from recycled materials, cloth napkins, cloth or cotton shopping bags, recycled fabric clothes, rechargeable batteries, reusable water bottles, solar phone chargers etc.

What is more important to you? Social or environmental issues?

A good starting point is that civil society is maturing. Presently, society’s expectations are considerable and reflect a paradigm shift in the geopolitical landscape since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Post Rio, many businesses recalibrated, focusing on how best to merge economic efficiency with environmental excellence to ensure sustainable economic growth while consuming the world’s resources and protecting the environment without compromising the needs of future generations. In this regard, eco-efficiency was adopted, combining environmental and economic performance to create more value for business and, crucially for communities – with less negative externalities.

Importantly, social and environmental issues are inextricably linked – each deserving equal weight, particularly so given the human and natural resources management challenges. In the scheme of things, the nexus between scientific knowledge and meaningful policy formulation cannot be ignored. Previously, science and policy were considered distinct disciplines set apart by communication gaps and diverging interests. Lately, the importance of scientific knowledge in policy processes has been virtually undisputed. More significant progress is therefore needed in communication at the science-policy interface.

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