Niger
3.7 Niger Waste Management
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Waste management and handling is not well developed in Niger. There is little to no awareness of potential hazards, legislation is not well developed and enforcement plans are missing. With regard to sanitation close to 80 % of the population defecate openly. Thrash are discarded wherever and either eaten by goats and cows or burned in small fires at the place.

There is no recycling programme in place. Nonetheless, usable waste will normally be recuperated and put to use. Glass and plastic bottles will for example be re-used for bottling locally produced beverages and nuts. Food and organic material may be used as animal food or turned to compost. E-waste will often be recycled by individual craftsmen. The largest challenge is thus plastic which is in abundance and for which there is no formal or informal recycling.   

4.11 Niger Additional Service Provision Contact List

Waste Disposal - Non Hazourdous

Municipal solid waste is vaguely regulated as part of hygiene legislation (n°93-13, 1993). Specific guidelines on disposal and juridical procedures for the enforcement are absent.

Disposal of perished food stuff is by burning and burying. The sanitary police will need to verify that the food is unfit for human and animal consumption before the act can be carried out.

Waste Disposal - Hazourdous

While there is legislation that address hazardous waste (n°89-24, 1989) it is however incomprehensive (only addresses imported hazardous waste) and there is no enforcement plans in place. For healthcare waste there is no legislation or policies. The same goes for E-waste although there is informal recycling performed by individuals. They will have little to no awareness of health hazards though. 

Treatment of industrial waste suffers from lack of equipment and low funding. The private sector possesses limited equipment and treatment is often only done in wealthier areas where inhabitants can afford the cost. In the less developed areas of the country it is simply dumped where convenient.

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