Plastic Pollution: UNIDO Partners LASEPA, Advocates Sustainable Practices

The United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) in partnership with Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) said, its collaboration is to further cushion the need to reduce plastic wastes pollution.

This was stated at a seminar/workshop held in Lagos which had stakeholders in the waste management value chain across the state – with the theme: ‘promoting sustainable plastic value chain through circular economy practices.’

Speaking at the event, National programme coordinator, environment and energy (UNIDO) Mr Oluyomi Banjo explained that the partnership between Lagos state environmental protection agency (LASEPA) and United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) as well as the gathering of stakeholders was to discuss the way forward in other to curb the menace of plastic pollution through the practice of circular economy and also proffer solutions to the such.

He expressed that, innovations over the years have outrightly brought about also gave huge rise to alternative materials where people could use things such as plastic and then discard almost, if not immediately after use because they were rather cheap and readily available for man’s consumption.

“There is a need for sensitisation for both manufacturers and consumers in this aspect.

Banjo further expressed, “we need to urgently go back to days when things were used over, over and again.

He said: “we can achieve this especially through education and sensitisation thereby teaching consumers to be responsible towards their environment.

Although, we have a lot of sensitisation for the manufacturers, he said.

Banjo however charged stakeholders, “we need to put some infrastructures as business owners, government and development partners and as well know the right place to channel support to.”

He further advised manufacturers to be more innovative thereby producing and manufacturing with the right materials that would not only be recyclable but also reduce waste generation.

On his part, director-general, LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi said the theme for the seminar was much needed at a time like this as it addresses the need for a rethink on ways to treat plastic wastes.

He called for the sorting of wastes from source through reduce, reuse and recycle.

“If we want our society to be free from many negative effects of climate change and other environmental problems, we must treat our waste including plastic waste in the globally approved standard, because doing otherwise protends great danger for our lives and the ecosystem,” he said.

He noted that the state government had been at the forefront of creating policies aimed at achieving a sustainable environment.

Ajayi listed some of the policies to include annual tree planting campaigns, participation in the annual world environment day celebration, effective flood control system and climate change action plan.

Also, a representative of the Lagos state waste management authority (LAWMA), Assistant Director, Jirinsola Olaleye said with 26 million people in Lagos each producing 0.6kg of waste daily.

She said, the overriding objective of the authority in waste management was to change people’s perception on waste hence residents should sort their wastes from source to avoid plastic pollution.