From Trash To Cash: How Carton Recycling Is Boosting Incomes

As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising unemployment and environmental challenges, carton recycling is emerging as an unlikely but powerful source of income for many. What was once considered waste is now being transformed into economic opportunity, with individuals and small businesses tapping into the growing demand for recyclable materials

Carton recycling is gradually emerging as a profitable small-scale business in Nigeria, creating income opportunities for many while helping to reduce environmental waste.

Across cities and communities, collectors, sorters, and recyclers are building livelihoods around discarded cartons, supplying raw materials to manufacturing firms and contributing to a more sustainable economy. Beyond cleaning up the environment, carton recycling is steadily creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, and opening new income streams for Nigerians willing to turn waste into worth.

Cartons, which are often discarded after use, are now being collected, flattened and sold to companies that repurpose them for packaging and other industrial uses. Furniture makers, for instance, say they purchase cartons in large quantities to wrap and protect chairs and other items during transportation.

A furniture dealer explained that the demand for cartons remains high in the sector. “Sometimes we spend N8,000 or more just to get cartons for packing furniture,” he said.

In one Lagos estate, a carton collector, Kabiru Muhammad, said gathering discarded cartons has become part of his daily hustle.

“I don’t joke with cartons whenever I see them. This is another way for me to make money. I put shame aside, gather them and sell them to buyers. They pay me cash, and it is better than stealing people’s belongings,” he said.

For some households, cartons have also become a source of additional income. A grandmother in Lagos said she now keeps used cartons instead of throwing them away.

“People walk through the streets asking if we have cartons to sell. I gather mine and sell them at a reasonable price. Sometimes they pay me up to N2,000 for the cartons I sell,” she said.

The manager of Eco Exchange Solutions Services, Folake Olatunji, popularly known as Recycle Chick, explained that carton recycling involves collecting used cartons from individuals or businesses, paying owners for them, and reselling the materials to companies that convert them into new products such as packaging materials or roofing sheets.

“Cartons are bulky, so you need to flatten and tie them properly to make handling and transportation easier,” she said.

According to her, common sources of cartons include supermarkets, grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and markets.

She noted that because the business depends largely on bulk supply, collectors must build relationships with businesses that generate large volumes of cartons.

“It doesn’t make sense to hire a truck for a small load. The more cartons you collect, the better it is for logistics and profit,” she added.

Olatunji disclosed that she currently buys cartons at about N100 per kilogram and sells them to recycling companies at between N180 and N230 per kilogram, depending on market conditions.

While transporting cartons can be physically demanding, especially for operators without vehicles, she maintained that the venture remains profitable when handled in large quantities.

She also advised prospective collectors to be cautious when purchasing cartons, particularly wet ones.

“A wet carton gives false weight. You may buy eight kilos, but when it dries, it could drop to six or seven kilos, leaving you at a loss. Some people even soak cartons to make them heavier,” she cautioned.

Despite the challenges, Olatunji described carton recycling as a legitimate and sustainable way to earn a living.

“If it puts food on your table and pays your bills, then it makes sense,” she said.