- Food, Beverage Recyclers, Lagos Collaborate on Plastic Waste Management
The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance , a coalition comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Bottling Company, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Seven Up Bottling company and Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced a collaboration with the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, to rid the state’s waterways of plastic and packaging waste.
The group which indicated this in a statement on Wednesday added that the Memorandum of Understanding was a three-year partnership aimed at cleaning the Lagos State inland waterways.
The statement read in part, “The programme will focus on evacuation for recycling of packaging waste collected from the four inland waterways – Five-cowrie Creek to Lekki; Marina through Elegbata and Osborne to Oworonshoki, waterways from Apapa through Kirikiri, Mile 2, Festac to Oke-Afa, and the Ikorodu Axis, which covers Ipakodo, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Ijede and Badore.
“The FBRA will provide funding for equipment, gears and personnel training while the Lagos State Government will be responsible for structural civil works, managing execution, personnel, waste sorting centres and enforcement. The FBRA and Lagos State Government will jointly fund public awareness campaigns and advocacy on appropriate packaging waste disposal systems.”
The Chairman of the FBRA, Mrs Sade Morgan, was quoted as saying, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of positive collaboration between the FBRA steering committee and the Lagos State Government.
“Tackling one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today requires a collective approach, and as leaders in the industry, we understand the responsibility that we all have, to lead the way for the good of the environment, our communities and ourselves.
“This announcement is just one step in the initial phase of a long-term commitment to effective plastic waste management. We are committed to tackling one of the biggest issues threatening the sustainability of our planet and are excited about the positive impact this will have on our industry, and the nation at large.”
According to the statement, efforts by the FBRA and its steering committee has so far recorded recycling of almost one billion bottles into fibre; over 1,800 direct jobs on an average income of $6 per day; as well as the creation of synthetic fibre for local industries and export.
