The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) partnered Trashusers, a plastic waste collection organisation and Lagos State government in ridding Agege community of plastic waste as part of its strong commitment to environmental preservation during this year’s World Clean-Up Day.
The clean-up exercise focused on cleaning drainages, streets and the major canal in Agege was held on September 21, this year’s World Clean-Up Day. It resonates FBRA’s resolve in intensifying awareness on waste separation for recycling and measures of curbing environmental pollution caused by food and beverage packaging waste.
The exercise was embarked upon by volunteered staff of member-companies of the Alliance (FBRA), which is the Producer Responsibility Organisation for the food and beverage sector in line with the Extended Producer Responsibility. Other partners includes: Trashusers, a private plastic waste collection organisation, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LASESC), the Community Development Association (CDA), Olusanya, Oke koto, Agege, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and volunteers.
Commenting on the clean-up initiative, the Technical Lead, FBRA, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, said the initiative was aimed at reinforcing the consciousness on responsible waste management to Nigerians that the environment should be free from waste pollution, especially those from food and beverage packaging which hardly degrade.
She said the Alliance has been at the forefront of its advocacy role of educating the populace on proper waste disposal and the need for a clean environment through waste separation, proper disposal and recycling, which can also enhance job and wealth creation along the value chain.
According to her, the Agege clean-up initiative would reawaken the consciousness among inhabitants of the community that their environment where they live, and work is paramount to their wellbeing and should be preserved for healthy living.
Onyemelukwe who is also the Head, Public Affairs and Communications of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, explained that if proper waste management is adopted, diseases, flooding that comes with indiscriminate waste disposal will be eliminated thereby promoting a healthy lifestyle.
On the partnership with FBRA, the Managing Director, Trashusers, Seun Bode, said it is an opportunity to advance his course on waste collection and recycling in the pursuit for a cleaner Lagos. He commended FBRA on its advocacy role through community campaigns on recycling with the recent Ojo neighbourhood initiative as well as Orile buy-back scheme.
Attesting to FBRA’s level of commitment, the Chief Scientific Officer, LASEPA, Agboola Muyideen, who was satisfied with the waste cleared from Agege canal, commended the Alliance and Trashusers for keeping to their vision of ensuring environmental conservation.
He said LASEPA is highly delighted to collaborate with FBRA, as the Agency believe that waste management in Lagos with over 20 million inhabitants should be a joint effort between the government and producer responsibility organisations in the state.
“FBRA has taken its clean-up initiatives to an admirable height which shows that much can be achieved if effective collaboration is ensured between government and the private sector, a move intended by Lagos State through its reform agenda on waste eradication,” Muyideen pointed out.
While eulogising the clean-up exercise, Head of Olusanya, Oke Koto, CDA, Bishop Julius Olusanya, who was present with his members, affirmed “it is a good thing and that is why we have lent our support to it. I have the belief that people in my CDA are very reasonable and they will adhere to measures aimed at curbing waste pollution
Last year, FBRA embarked on a clean-up exercise at the popular Arena market in Oshodi, in commemoration of the World Clean-up Day. The campaign was used to enlighten traders, shoppers and members of Nurses-of-air Foundation on crucial issues relating to proper waste disposal and separation of plastic from metal and food waste, recycling, healthy lifestyle and other measures aimed at curbing pollution.
Founded in December 2013, the Alliance has membership drawn from responsible and forward-thinking companies which include Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (Manufacturers of Coca-Cola brands), Nigerian Breweries Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Intercontinental Distillers Limited, International Breweries Limited, Tulip Cocoa, and Prima Caps and Preforms.
