Kaduna Citizen Tackles Plastic Waste and Open Defecation with 4-Room Toilet Made from 25,000 Bottles

Volunteer Initiates Construction of 4-Room Toilet Using Thousands of Plastic Bottles to End Open Defecation in Schools

A citizen from Kaduna has launched the construction of a four-room toilet using over 25,000 plastic bottles to address the sanitation issues at a local school and help eliminate open defecation.

Alamin Lawal, the Kaduna-based volunteer behind the project, announced that work is underway at Abakwa Secondary School, where the first-ever plastic waste toilet will be built for the students.

“We’ve enlisted some of the best engineers, builders, and bricklayers to ensure this project is completed effectively,” said Alamin.

The project involves constructing a four-room toilet using plastic bottles collected from trash dumps and the streets around the state. The aim is to reduce plastic pollution, which contributes to flooding and other environmental problems.

“These plastic bottles—such as those from Pepsi, Coke, Miranda, Sprite, and other drinks—are typically discarded at waste sites. We’re repurposing them for this toilet, which is designed to last for many years,” Alamin explained.

The primary goal of the initiative is to combat both open defecation and plastic pollution on a larger scale.

“Our survey found that the school has no toilets, and there are over 360 students attending. This new facility will allow students to relieve themselves during school hours, which is a huge improvement,” he said.

Alamin also mentioned that he volunteered to undertake the project as part of his support for the state government and other organizations focused on protecting the environment.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to use the ‘

 “Hey Global Climate Fund” to fund this project and provide a modern toilet for the students’ benefit,” he added.

According to Alamin, between 20,000 and 25,000 plastic bottles will be used to build this innovative four-room toilet, making it the first of its kind for a community school.

Theme: Connecting Sanitation with Creativity for Future Generations

Engineer Siba Ahmed, chief engineer with the Developmental Associations for Renewable Energy (DARE), shared their involvement in the project. “We’re here at Abakwa Community School to build the first-ever four-room plastic waste toilet for the students to use during school hours,” Siba said.

He noted that the construction was going well and expected the project to be completed before the end of Ramadan, with God’s will.

“The toilet we’re building is unlike anything seen before in public schools in Kaduna State. It will be more durable than conventional block buildings and will withstand all weather conditions,” Siba added.

Addressing Plastic Waste

Ibrahima Yakubu, a science and climate journalist with African Climate Reporters, visited the site to learn more about the project. He highlighted the importance of the initiative in combating plastic waste.

“According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about 280 million tons of plastic are produced annually worldwide, yet only a small fraction is recycled,” Ibrahima said.

He commended the project and urged civil society organizations and other environmental NGOs to support such efforts.

Ibrahima also called on the Nigerian government to recognize and reward individuals like Alamin Lawal for their dedication and tireless work toward improving the country.