Social Enterprises in Urban Lagos: Exploring Recycling Participation Rates and Economic Empowerment Outcomes

Urban waste management in Lagos, Nigeria faces significant challenges including high levels of informal recycling activities and limited formal sector involvement. Social enterprises have emerged as potential solutions to enhance recycling participation rates and promote economic empowerment among urban residents. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews to gather insights from both formal waste management organizations and informal recycling communities. Data collection involved structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews conducted in urban Lagos. Recycling participation rates were notably higher among participants who received direct support from social enterprises compared to those without such assistance, with a proportion of 75% in the intervention group versus 40% in the control group. Qualitative data highlighted themes of increased financial stability and improved community engagement as key outcomes. The study confirms the potential of social enterprises in enhancing recycling participation and fostering economic empowerment within urban waste management contexts, providing evidence for policy makers to consider such interventions in similar settings. Policy recommendations include incentivizing social enterprises through grants or subsidies, ensuring continuous support for community engagement activities, and integrating these initiatives into existing waste management frameworks. social enterprise, recycling, economic empowerment, urban waste management, Lagos