To effectively stop plastic pollution of the nation’s aquatic bodies, especially the Atlantic Ocean, Nigerians needs to engage heavily in the collection and recycling of plastic waste.
This were part of the discussion by some marine resource experts and waste recyclers in Lagos at the celebration of this year’s ‘World Ocean Day’, organised by the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (Niomir) in collaboration with the International Ocean Institute (IOI) -Nigeria.
Plastic waste management
Delivering a paper on, “Plastic Pollution: the problems and the success stories in Nigeria,” a consultant to the Lagos State Waste Management Authority and waste recycler in Lagos, Mr Taiwo Adewole, said plastic wastes management remains a lucrative business, with an estimated daily revenue of N4billion, and over a trillion naira every year.
70% Plastic waste unharnessed
According to him, “In Nigeria, around 5 billion plastic bottles are being produced annually and they end up as wastes. Of these , only 30% is collected by the formal and informal sector, which means there is a wide gap of 70% unharnessed.
Mr Adewole emphasised that the revenue prospect was high because plastic wastes could be used to manufacture many products, such as fuel for generating electricity, bricks for building, bottles, furniture materials, amongst others.
He therefore advised Nigerians to embrace the business of plastic wastes collection and recycling as an alternative means of revenue generation and, by so doing, contribute to ridding the nation of the non-degradable waste products.
The Chief Researcher of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Mr Akanbi Williams, who is also the Director of the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Nigeria, explained that the event’s goal was to return people to their roots by recognizing opportunities inherent in plastic waste and its management as a viable alternative source of income
The United Nations has designated June 8 of every year as ‘Ocean Day’ to spread awareness of the vital role that the oceans play in our lives.
This year’s event has the theme PLANET OCEAN: THE TIDE ARE CHANGING.
