Rite Foods Partners RecyclePoints To Recover 750 Tonnes Of Plastic Waste In Lagos

Amid the waste management crisis in Lagos State, Rite Foods Limited has partnered with RecyclePoints to recover over 750 tonnes of plastic waste annually to reduce environmental pollution, improve circularity in packaging use and stimulate grassroots economic activity.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, Ekuma Eze, described the initiative as a natural evolution of the company’s sustainability journey and a deliberate move to embed extended producer responsibility (EPR) into its business model.

According to him, it reinforced the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance with the launch of its “Waste-Is-Naira” (WIN) initiative, in partnership with RecyclePoints.

He explained that it is an ambitious, community-driven programme designed to advance Extended Producer Responsibility while transforming plastic waste into a viable source of income for Nigerians.

Ekuma said, “This initiative goes beyond clean-up efforts. It reflects our responsibility as a producer to close the loop on our packaging materials. With ‘Waste-Is-Naira’, we are institutionalising a system where post-consumer waste is recovered, reintegrated into the value chain, and translated into tangible socio-economic benefits for Nigerians.”

He further noted that following years of impactful coastal clean-up campaigns under the Riteon the Beach initiative, the company is now scaling its efforts inland through a more structured, incentive-based recycling framework that drives behavioral change at the community level.

The programme manager at RecyclePoints, Daniel Oderinde, explained that participants are provided with designated ‘Waste-Is-Naira’ sack bags to encourage proper waste segregation at the source.

“Once filled, these materials are delivered to designated collection hubs, where they are weighed, logged, and digitally recorded. Payments are subsequently processed, ensuring transparency, traceability, and financial inclusion for participants,” he said.

They said the partnership with RecyclePoints, a leading waste-to-wealth social enterprise and recycler, is supported by key regulatory and industry stakeholders, including the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), and community leaders, among others.

“The programme allows residents to exchange used plastic bottles and beverage cans for cash, effectively converting waste into economic opportunities,” they said.