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The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has been commended by
the Lagos State Ministry of Environment as it embarked on a clean-up exercise
at the Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos on Friday in commemoration of the
World Cleanup Day, which falls on September 15, this year.
Volunteer staff of FBRA member-firms led traders and other users of the
popular Lagos market in collecting waste from used polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) bottles towards a cleaner and healthier trading environment.
The initiative, which received the collaboration of the Lagos State Ministry of
Environment, was organised in collaboration with Recycle Points, FBRA’s
partner involved in the collection of plastic waste for recycling.
The campaign was used to enlighten traders, shoppers, as well as members of
Nurses of-air Foundation on crucial issues relating to proper disposal and
separation of plastic from metal and food waste, recycling, healthy lifestyle and
other measures aimed at curbing environmental pollution.
Commending FBRA for the laudable exercise, the Assistant Director of
Environmental Services Department, Waste Management Division at the Lagos
State Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo said the campaign was
worth emulating.
She said that the state government would be interested in working with FBRA
to get rid of plastic waste from the environment, especially PET bottles from the
lagoon and canals, in order to save aquatic lives.
According to her, the industrialisation level in the state has generated huge
waste and raised concerns from the public and private sector, adding that
FBRA’s intervention, either in collection or recycling, has saved the situation to
a considerable extent.
On her part, FBRA Chairman, Mrs. Folasade Morgan said the initiative was
executed to demonstrate exemplary steps for others to follow, as PET bottles
causes blockage of drainages in many Nigerian towns and cities.
Morgan, who was represented by Mrs. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Public Affairs
and Communications Manager, The ‘Coca-Cola’ Company Nigeria, said that in
order to achieve environmental preservation, Nigerians should imbibe the
culture of proper waste disposal and separation for easy recycling into other
useful products.
She added that the value chain involved in the recycling process of PET bottles
could lead to job and wealth creation.
According to her, the Arena Market was chosen for the cleanup because it is
strategically situated with lots of people and it is a collection hub for its partner,
Recycle Points.
Commenting on the initiative, Hanaah Afolabi, one of the volunteers from
Nigerian Breweries Plc, affirmed that it was exciting showing an exemplary
conduct of cleanness and also educating people that indiscriminate disposal of
waste, especially PET bottles is not good for the environment.
She said although the traders commended FBRA’s drive towards a healthier
environment, they urged for more enlightenment programmes and that
government should provide more waste facilities.
Also, Ahmed Agbomire from ‘Coca-Cola’ stated that he traders and shoppers
were overwhelmed with the turnout of volunteered staff. He urged organisations
in other sectors to emulate the scheme.
The clean-up at the Arena Market was aimed at reinforcing the consciousness of
the global action on Nigerians that the environment should be free from plastic
pollution, especially waste from PET bottles, which hardly degrade.
Founded in 2013 as the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for the
food and beverage sector, FBRA has been adhering to the EPR policy of
government, which transfers significant responsibility to producers for the entire
life-cycle of their products especially at the post-consumer stages.
The Alliance has membership drawn from responsible and forward-thinking
companies. These are: Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, The ‘Coca-Cola’
Company Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company
Limited and Nestle Nigeria Plc.
The World Cleanup Day is a global social action programme aimed at
combating the global solid waste problem, including the problem of marine
debris. This year, it would hold on September 15, beginning at 10 am, and
spanning the world's time zones until concluding near the international date line
in Hawaii, United States.
