This impactful initiative, funded equally by Coca-Cola and USAID with a combined investment of $4 million, will tackle the critical challenge of plastic waste management in Nigeria through innovative recycling solutions.
According to the President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg, with an estimated 2.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste generated yearly, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate its impact on the environment and public health.
He said: “The primary objective of the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity (NPSA) is to recover approximately 49,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste in Nigeria while upscaling the collection capacity of over 24 aggregators and 9,500 collectors.”
In addition, the programme aims to create over 10,000 green jobs, driving circularity in plastic waste management and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment.
“The Coca-Cola Foundation places a priority on helping communities become more sustainable by supporting innovative collection and recycling solutions at a local level.
“We hope this new programme in Nigeria serves as a catalyst to drive increased collection and recycling rates as we collectively work towards a more sustainable society at a time.”
Also, USAID Mission Director, Melissa Jones, remarked: “In addition to improving the environment, plastic waste collection, sorting, aggregating, processing and manufacturing offer employment opportunities. Small and medium scale enterprises and entry-level and semi-skilled workers stand to benefit from this new value chain.”
U.S. Consul-General, Will Stevens, reiterated the United States (U.S.) government’s commitment to the new project.
Meanwhile, in his keynote address, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the necessity of the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity, saying: “Our policy and advocacy efforts present a paradigm shift on plastic waste. We can no longer view it as a disposable commodity; rather, it must be regarded as a resource-demanding responsible stewardship. We cannot shy away from this responsibility; we must confront it head-on with resolve and determination.”
