By Munachimso Obienyi
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of the Environment, generates about 32 million tonnes of waste per year, among the highest in Africa.
This was revealed during the ‘Dirt for Good’ campaign organised by Africa’s biggest laundry brand, OMO in Lagos recently.
The brand while revealing its idea behind the educational campaign, noted that it wanted to engage and educate school children on plastic recycling through its Dirt For Good campaign, a holistic approach towards reducing waste, promoting sustainability and creating better communities.
Dirt for Good is a 3-week program focused on making children and youths a part of the solution towards addressing plastic waste and littering by sensitizing and encouraging the collection and recycling of plastic waste, and proper waste disposal practices with thirty schools to be engaged through this initiative across Lagos.
Speaking at an event in Karis Schools, a private educational institution in Magodo Phase 2, the Brand Manager, OMO, Chinonyerem Opara, emphasized the need to take urgent action on sustainability and climate change, stating that Nigerian children are the changemaker generation that can impact the future of their environment.
“Global studies have consistently shown the negative impacts of plastic waste on the environment. With the huge surge we are currently experiencing, addressing plastic waste and recycling is no longer a local issue, but a global concern for everyone”.
Also speaking, Chief Operating Officer, Wecyclers, Yemisi Lawal, said
“The low level of recycling in Nigeria, which is less than 12 per cent and inadequate waste collection is a huge threat to plastic pollution management.”
“An estimated 367 million tonnes of plastic were produced in 2020 alone – about 12 tonnes (12,000kg) of plastic waste produced every second that year. If we are to find a lasting solution to waste pollution, it begins by influencing change across all communities, even with students.
According to the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nigeria generates about 32 million tonnes of waste per year, among the highest in Africa. Of the waste generated yearly, 2.5 million tonnes is plastic waste, most of which (70 percent) ends up in landfills, sewers, beaches, and water bodies”, she said.
