The Oyo State Government has sealed a facility engaging in the recycling of waste tyres to produce pyrolysis oil, carbon black and steel wire, as byproducts.
The facility, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited, Olopomeji, along Ife Road, Ibadan, in the Egbeda Local Government Area, which has been in existence since 2016, has been discovered to have grossly embarked on unhealthy practices, which contravene the Extant Environmental Regulations of the state.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resource, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, explained that the move is in the government’s efforts at ensuring conformity and adherence by companies, industrial firms, and corporate bodies, to acceptable worldwide and state environmental laws.
He said during several routine monitoring to the company by Ministry officials, it was discovered that the pyrolysis process had led to unhealthy emissions, with flora sighted within and outside of the facility, and stained with carbon black, which consequently is hazardous to human health.
The Commissioner noted that apart from the facility being stained with the carbon black, the company had no evidence of engagement with solid waste contractor, while the workers are also exposed to high risk, as there was no provisions for personal protective equipment, nor evidence of health scheme for staff in all sections of production.
He said there was no portable water, and air quality measured, as at the time of visits, was beyond the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) limits.
Mogbonjubola emphasized that, earlier, the Ministry had instructed the facility management to engage the services of needed experts, to put every recommendation and mitigation measures given to it by the Ministry in place, especially the engagement of services of a certified safety officer, and do proper housekeeping.
According to the Commissioner, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited had earlier been culpable and sanctioned with a fine of N1.5million to be paid to government coffers, which it declined.
He however, expressed his displeasure over the non-compliance disposition of some facility owners, industries, companies and corporate organisations to existing extant rules and regulations.
Mogbonjubola emphasized that the present administration in the state would not in any way compromise standards, nor tolerate violators of environmental health laws of the state.
