Abuja set out to turn plastic pollution into a formal source of income rather than an environmental liability. The city transformed waste pickers into a recognized, paid partner. The project  and consisted in installing reverse vending machines that could accept and pay for plastic brought in by informal collectors, but also residents.

Collected plastics are then recycled  that crushes it and turn them into particles, keeping the out of clogged drains, waterways and landfills.

The project was funded by the Government of Japan through UNIDO.