Nigeria's 'Waste Museum' Shows Waste Can Turn to Wealth

Nigeria's 'Waste Museum' Shows Waste Can Turn to Wealth

Jumoke Olowookere's latest works¹ are made from used vehicle tires painted in red, yellow and green. The creations² join a collection of used plastic, cloth, wine corks³, corn husks and other materials in what is called "Waste Museum" in Nigeria.

Olowookere said the museum is the first of its kind in Africa. She is part of a growing number of Nigerians who are using waste material to make art and clothing. Their work calls attention to the damaging effects of waste on the environment.

At the recent opening ceremony for the museum in Ibadan city, she said, "With the Waste Museum, we are showcasing the value of waste."

"We want people to see how waste can be turned into wealth. Our ultimate⁴ goal is to ensure that no waste goes into the landfill –– a zero-waste future is possible," she added.

Idea for museum

Olowookere said she had the idea for a museum when she saw the amount of waste that came from her home. She started collecting the waste while reading up on how to reduce and recycle waste. Recycling is a process to make something new from something that has been used before.

With support from the United States African Development Foundation⁵, the Waste Museum was born.

Olowookere said she collected waste material from people's homes for her works. And she also makes equipment for play areas for children at school, called playgrounds. Work from other artists is also shown at the museum. It includes furniture and housing⁶ material made from old car tires and jewelry⁷ produced from bottle tops.

The "Waste Museum" also provides environmental education and helps women and youth from underserved communities with upcycling skills. Upcycling reuses waste material to create a new product.

Concerns over waste, pollution

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer. Additionally, it has more than 200 million people. Plastic waste, like leftover⁸ bags, and food and drink containers, are commonly thrown into the streets and other public areas. Throwing waste into public areas and the environment is called littering.

A lot of waste in Nigeria ends up in the waterways that lead into the Gulf⁹ of Guinea, an area in the Atlantic Ocean. That has led to concerns about the amount of plastic entering the sea.

Olowookere told Reuters, "We have a long way to go to get to that sustainable world without waste. We need to get up and take responsibility for our waste. Stop littering the world with your waste."

Words in This Story

museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

showcase – v. to show (something or someone) in an attractive or favorable¹⁰ way

ultimate – adj. happening or coming at the end of a process or series of events

landfill – n. an area where waste is buried under the ground

furniture – n. chairs, tables, beds, and other objects that are used to make a room ready for use

sustainable – adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources

1 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

2 creations   

创造( creation的名词复数 )； 创造物； （尤指所述由上帝）创造天地； 宇宙

参考例句：

• This artist's creations are worth collecting. 这个艺术家的作品值得收藏。
• The intellectual creations of individual nations become common property. 各民族的精神产品成了公共的财产。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

3 corks   

n.脐梅衣；软木( cork的名词复数 )；软木塞

参考例句：

• Champagne corks were popping throughout the celebrations. 庆祝会上开香槟酒瓶塞的砰砰声不绝於耳。 来自辞典例句
• Champagne corks popped, and on lace tablecloths seven-course dinners were laid. 桌上铺着带装饰图案的网织的桌布，上面是七道菜的晚餐。 来自飘（部分）

4 ultimate   

adj.最远的；最后的；终极的；根源的，基本的

参考例句：

• What was his ultimate goal?他的最终目标是什么？
• The sun is the ultimate store of power.太阳是能量之本。

5 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

6 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

7 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

8 leftover   

n.剩货，残留物，剩饭；adj.残余的

参考例句：

• These narrow roads are a leftover from the days of horse-drawn carriages.这些小道是从马车时代沿用下来的。
• Wonder if that bakery lets us take leftover home.不知道那家糕饼店会不会让我们把卖剩的带回家。

9 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

10 favorable   

adj.赞成的，赞成的；有利的，良好的，顺利的

参考例句：

• The book received a favorable review.这本书赢得了好评。
• Each nation suppressed news that was not favorable to it.每个国家都扣留对它不利的消息。