File: A Waste Dump

Junior Chamber International (JCI), Lagos City Chapter, an NGO, on Saturday began the first phase of its waste materials’ recycling campaign.

The campaign, which started at Akobi Crescent, Surulere, Lagos, was tagged “Recycle for Cleaner Lagos City”.

The campaign is in collaboration with Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Surulere Local Government and RecyclePoint.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akobi Crescent and some other areas of Surulere were flooded on July 22 due to blockage of drains by non-degradable waste.

The President of the association, Mr Laolu Owolabi, said at the event that the aim was to promote waste segregation and recycling of non-degradable waste.

“We are advocating that members of the public know the essence of segregation of waste – separating the different categories of waste materials for proper disposal.

“We want to deepen this advocacy for people to embrace turning waste to wealth, with the understanding that certain waste materials still have viable economic use.

“Owolabi said that the benefits of public support for the campaign were much.

He said that the campaign was expected to promote holistic effort at creating a sustainable environment for the state residents, considering the threats anti-environmental activities posed to the lives of the inhabitants.

“We are encouraging recycling of non-degradable materials and reminding the people of environmental sanitation policies of the government as well as to align with the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

“This also helps us to align and drive the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN in the five key areas,’’ he said.

The chairman of the Akobi Crescent Community Development Association, Mr Sampson Omolaja, said that the association would provide a waste sorting point for the residents to drop bagged refuse for prompt sorting.

He urged the residents to stop dropping waste indiscriminately, particularly by canals, to avoid flooding and blocking of major drains.

“We are ready to work with the state government to improve our environment.

“I appeal that the bags distributed to us should not be sold out or used for another purpose; let us start sorting our waste to key into waste-to-wealth programme,’’ he said.

The National President, Mr Richard Ojo, called on the residents to embrace waste sorting and recycling to keep the environment freer and safer.

“ We call on other stakeholders to join hands to stop blockage of drains.

“The government cannot do it alone; we need to continue sensitisation and collaboration to care for our society.

“All canals should be free and safe,’’ Ojo said.

NAN reports that the campaignere donated waste bags and bins for separation of non-degradable wastes, at the event.