UNIDO, LASEPA decry menace of plastic waste, urge circular economy practice

Stakeholders in the environmental sector have decried the menace of plastic waste and resolved to promote its use through a circular economy practice.
According to them, if a circular economy practice is introduced, it will reduce the abuse of plastics in the society.

They made this resolution at a one-day awareness raising public seminar on plastic circular economy organised by United Nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) themed: “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains through Circular Economy Practices”.

The seminar aimed to contribute to Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable industrial development and reduce leakage of plastics to the environment through promotion of circular economy principles and practices, as well as ensure effective implementation of plastic waste management and strengthening plastic value chains.

In his welcome address, the General Manager, LASEPA, Babatunde Ajayi, called for the sorting of waste from source through reduce, reuse and recycle. “If we want our society to be free from the negative effects of climate change, and other environmental problems, we must treat our waste including plastics in the globally approved standards because doing otherwise portends great danger for our lives and the ecosystem,” he said.

Ajayi said the government is at the forefront of creating policies aimed at achieving a sustainable environment. Some of the policies, he said are yearly tree planting campaigns, world environment day celebration, effective flood control system and climate change action.

UNIDO National Programme Coordinator, Environment and Energy, Oluyomi Banjo, noted that awareness creation is needed on the use of plastic waste. “We need to educate, sensitise and put in place infrastructure as government, businesses, and development partners to make it easier for citizens to practice circular economy.

“Everybody needs to be educated to know their responsibility towards their environment and to the people around them. The manufacturers need to be innovative, so that they can manufacture and produce the right materials, which are not only recyclable but reduce waste generation. If possible, eliminate it and for government, development partners to channel their support,” he said.

Executive Director, Finance, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Kunle Adebiyi, lamented the attitude of Nigerians to waste disposal.

“Waste is a post component of consumption, people don’t think about what to do with waste, they just litter the waste, and it has been a challenge to us as an authority because most of these wastes end up blocking drainages and becoming a menace to our environment,” he lamented.

noted that LAWMA is engaging the communities to ensure that people obey the laws; people don’t need to throw waste indiscriminately but ensure that waste becomes a resource to them.

“Public health is a major issue because plastics are pollutants, they block our drainages and when it’s burnt, the emission that comes out from them endangers our lives,” Adebiyi said.