Lagos partners FBRA, others to rid Badagry of plastic pollution

To reinforce the Blue Box programme of Lagos State Government aimed at ensuring a cleaner environment, the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has partnered the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and the Green Janitors Sustainability Initiative to rid Badagry and environs of plastic waste.

The initiative which was initiated by Green Janitors and LAWMA, is part of a three-month campaign aimed at educating Lagos communities on waste separation from source and rewards for collection of post-consumer packaging waste, especially plastics for recycling.Representatives of the Lagos State Governor, LAWMA, members of FBRA, Recycling organisations and other stakeholders in the waste management industry attended the programme.

During the campaign, Lagos State Government in collaboration with FBRA participated in the distribution of waste bags for the collection of recyclables such as, plastic, nylons, cans and glass waste and domestic waste.Addressing the residents during the kick-off of the campaign and the rewards exercise, FBRA’s Chairman, Sade Morgan represented by a Director of the Alliance, Ekuma Eze emphasised the need for all to promote recycling at the community level to foster environmental sustainability and a cleaner society. He said the Alliance was highly delighted in partnering with Green Janitors in its environmental conservation initiative, which is in line with Lagos State Blue Box programme.

Eze said, “FBRA is committed in developing a sustainable recycling economy as the Badagry initiative is part of its ongoing campaign of engaging communities to promote recovery and enhance recycling through its ‘buy-back and rewards scheme as a means of mopping up the post-consumer packing waste from the environment”.

He emphasised the need for all to take action on the plastic waste menace in our environment through collaborative efforts of various stakeholders.
FBRA has been embarking on community enlightenment campaigns through the rewards program to reduce environmental pollution, create awareness for segregation at the source and encourage proper disposal of waste especially plastics that have contributed to flooding in most areas. It is committed to do more to enhance the recovery, collection and recycling of our post-consumer packing waste from the environment.

According to him, FBRA’s activities are in compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy of the Federal Government, which transfers significant responsibility to producers for the entire lifecycle of their product.

Commenting on the Pick-a-Plastic campaign, the Director of Research and Development, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Adebodun Toplonu Sewanu described the programme as a laudable initiative which is in line with the State Government Blue Box programme and the mandate of FBRA through the food and beverage companies. The Executive Director, Green Janitors Sustainability Initiative, Ashade Abdulsalam, said it was quite encouraging as both old and young embraced the initiative with sense of responsibility of keeping the environment free from food and beverage packaging waste, especially plastics.