Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, one of the pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, recently embarked on a clean-up and education campaign on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal.
Management and staff of the company, in collaboration with the Dopemu community in Alimosho Local Council, led by the Community Head, Mr Shuaib Afogunlowo, went on a full-day activation, which involved rewarding all waste collectors with food items and allocating 10 DORI Bins to selected bin posts.
The company announced that the host communities would continue to receive monthly allowances for their role as collectors and for providing recyclable materials.
The environmental challenge, which led to the clean-up campaign had been lingering for almost three years following a heavy rainfall which occurred on May 9, 2019, and left the premises of Swipha at Dopemu Road, Lagos, severely flooded.
It was so devastating, they had to shut down operations for hours out of fear of the risk of explosion and electrical hazards because of the unending overflow of water, which extended into the utility building.
Hours later, the cause of the flood was traced to heaps of refuse, which blocked the mesh inside the drainages.
As a corporate organisation with strong ties to the neighbourhood, a meeting was held with the community leaders on the need to fix the damaged mesh, which was because of refuse being dumped in the drainage.
The unfortunate event prompted the organisation to reach out to the Ministry of Environment, and on May 19, 2021, an acknowledgement letter was received stating the government’s readiness to reconstruct the drainage as well as address the issue of indiscriminate waste disposal.
The reconstruction project lasted six months from January to July 2022, while the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal in the drainage was not addressed.
This led to the appointment of Recycle Points Limited, a Waste Recycling and Social Benefit Venture, by the company, to lead the clean-up and education campaign.
Managing Director of Swipha, Mr Frederic Lieutaud, said: “As a pharmaceutical company, which prides itself on the well-being of people and the environment, we took it upon ourselves to encourage a cleaner environment for all by appointing a recycling company to handle the execution of the project.
He stated further: “This, we have done in our efforts to sustain the good relationship we have built over the years.”
Responding, the Managing Director of Recycle Points, Taiwo Adewole, said: “It is a thing of pride for us that we were appointed to lead the clean-up campaign, which allowed us to educate the community on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal, which include flooding, stagnant water and illnesses, as well as the benefits of recycling beyond revenue generation.”
The developments have seen positive changes in the community with drainages flowing freely and they are evacuated weekly.
The waste has also become a means of income for members of the community with the monthly collection of recyclable materials from Bin Hosts.
Each item collected is weighed based on the classification and values presented either as cash or a list of food or household items available.
