The Lagos State Government has been recounting achievements recorded in the last three years within the value chain of its Recycle Initiative.
The Government is elated to have made significant impact to the development of the sector with creation of employment for the people and also ensuring safer environment.
The Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, at an event organised to commemorate the three years of Lagos Recycle Initiative explained that the passion was borne out of the need to provide job opportunities for the teeming population.
Odumboni who applauded the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his interest in recycling, stated that it was all towards achieving a sustainable environment.
Employment
He mentioned that over twelve thousand people have been employed within the value chain of the Lagos Recycle Initiative in three years.
According to him, the State has grown from the three official recyclers who formed the pioneering stakeholders in 2019, to 157 registered recyclers at the moment.
“The values of recyclables have gone up from N15 on that day, (and) now, that same product is worth N150 – N170, not because of inflation, but because of understanding the value chain and the need for us to grow it.
“With engagement with stakeholders, about 170 recycling centres would be established in the State before the end of 2023, and weare urging producers who have not joined the clean-up of plastic pollution in the State to act responsibly by keying into platforms created for same.
“Other efforts that were put in place within the three year period include: the introduction of the system to school curriculum with waste to wealth teachings; partnership with public and private stakeholders, among others.” he explained.
Embrace Wastw Sorting System
He however called on resident to join the vision, by beginning to embrace waste sorting system to operationalise and optimise the benefits of Waste to Wealth initiative.
The LAWMA Boss who enjoined residents to maintain a double sorting waste system of having general and recycling waste bins, said the agency would commence the enforcement of the waste bin directive, demanding all households to possess and maintain waste bins, as defaulters may risk prosecution.
According to him “You must have a waste bin by 1st of October because if do not have, you will be served an abatement notice and then from the 4th of January (2023), you will stand to be prosecuted if you cannot provide an evidence of your bin. You have three months to sort yourself out to get a bin for your household,” the LAWMA boss said.
Efforts Felt
In his address of welcome, the Executive Director, LAWMA, Mr. Adekunle Adebiyi said the Agency with all stakeholders would ensure that all thier efforts were felt by residents of Lagos State and most importantly the environment.
He said indiscriminate and incessant littering of the environment with plastics have resulted to blockage of waterways and drainages, which sometimes result in flooding, destroying properties and affecting lives. and this according to him necessitated the need for recycling system to convert waste to wealth.
He said, “Lagos as a whole generates an estimated volume of 13,000 metric tons of waste daily. The daily influx of people from other states in search of greener pastures has resulted in high volume of waste generation with plastics accounting for about 17percent of this.
“Most times plastic waste ends up in the ocean, polluting it, threatening ecosystems, killing biodiversity, and poisoning the food chain.”
Adebiyi emphasised the need to create value from waste through reuse, reduce and recycle so that the volume of waste that goes to the dumpsite could reduce.
Ideal development
The President, Lagos Recyclers Association, LAGRA, Mr. Femi Adegoke, said the initiative as a fundamental development drive for waste to wealth has grown since 2019 as the Managing Director, Polysmart Packaging Limited, Mr. Wasiu Balogun, also stressed the importance for Lagosians to optimise the deliverables of the recycling value chain.
Pakam App
Highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of Pakam app 2.0, an all-inclusive waste management software application that connects residents to recyclers.
The CEO of Pakam Technology, Mr. Adeleye Odebunmi, said the app would allowed prompt exchange and redemption of their recyclable items, in real-time.
While highlighting the features of the revamped app, Odebunmi encouraged households to key into the opportunities presented by the seamless technology, to make money and tackle waste management challenges in the state.
Confidence Okwuchi
