Waste to Wealth & Fertilizer Development

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From Waste to Wealth: Transforming Ondo’s Resources through Integrated Fertilizer Production & Circular Economy Models

Waste to Wealth

The "Waste to Wealth" and "Fertilizer Development" initiatives in Ondo State represent a multi-billion naira strategic shift toward a circular economy. Managed through the Ondo State Integrated Wastes Recycling and Treatment Project (OSIWRTP) and key Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), these programs focus on industrial-scale resource recovery and environmental remediation.
  • Client

    Ondo State Government in partnership with (OSWMA)

  • Category

    Sustainable Agriculture & Circular Economy

  • Project Value

    -

  • Date

    2024 – 2026

1. Waste-to-Value Systems & Infrastructure

The state has established central hubs for transforming solid and liquid waste into marketable industrial inputs.

  • The OSIWRTP Hub: Located on Igbatoro Road in Akure, this facility serves as the primary site for waste processing.

  • Diversified Output: Operations include converting scrap iron for foundry products and utilizing anaerobic digestion to generate biogas for energy.

  • Industrial Partnerships: The government resurrected a ₦7 billion PPP with ZL Global Alliance to manage resource conservation, fleet equipment, and the treatment of solid, liquid, e-waste, and medical waste.

2. Fertilizer Development & Agricultural Integration

A core component of the “Waste to Wealth” model is the production of organic soil conditioners to support food security.

  • Organic Fertilizer Production: The OSIWRTP produces organic fertilizer from municipal solid waste as a primary output.

  • Strategic Investment: As of 2026, the government is facilitating a proposed $4 billion integrated urea fertilizer plant in the Sunshine Free Trade Zone (Ilaje LGA) to strengthen the state’s position in the national fertilizer value chain.

  • Rural Development: Localized “Waste to Wealth” facilities have been inaugurated in agrarian communities like Mahintedo to support local livelihoods and cassava processing.

3. Resource Recovery & Sustainable Production Models

Current projects emphasize moving beyond simple disposal to high-value resource recovery.

  • Plastic2Product Initiatives: Targeted programs focus on recycling plastic waste into durable construction materials, such as paving bricks and interlocks, which are then used in public infrastructure projects.

  • Youth-Led Reforestation: Recycling efforts are often paired with tree-planting campaigns to increase urban green cover and restore degraded lands.

4. 3R’s Advocacy & Sensitization

Changing public behavior through the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is critical to long-term sustainability.

  • Community Engagement: Sensitization workshops, radio talks, and interpersonal communication are used to drive behavioral changes toward effective litter management.

  • Education & Training: Programs focus on training youth in green entrepreneurship and waste sorting, encouraging the establishment of waste buy-back centers that turn household waste into an income stream for residents.

  • Institutional Support: The recruitment of Sanitary Inspectors and youth corps members has been used to improve compliance with state sanitary laws.