The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has adopted a smart waste collection initiative aimed at tackling growing refuse heaps and environmental concerns in the state.
Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has, since last year, experienced steadily growing heaps of refuse along major roads and in suburban centres, heightening calls for an environmental audit.
In a bid to tackle the refuse heaps, RIWAMA, led by Ibimina Wokoma, its managing director, adopted the smart collection initiative, which is expected to kick off in October this year.
The smart waste collection initiative, a technology-driven system aimed at making refuse collection more organised, traceable and responsive, was initially scheduled to begin in May 2026.
The project, which will begin in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and surrounding areas, uses real-time data and digital monitoring to optimise collection routes and monitor waste movement from households to approved dumpsites.
