Lagos Seeks Participation From Local Communities In Waste  Recycling

In furtherance of the quest for a cleaner and healthier communities, the Lagos State Government on Wednesday sought the participation of the local communities as it launched the model community recyclable management project.

Speaking during the launching at the headquarters of the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji said the recycling initiative is one of the fulfillment of the present Administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda serving as Environmental Sanitation Advocacy and Economic Empowerment Programme for the people of Lagos.

He said the continuous increase in population with the corresponding increase in the generation of waste has necessitated the need for a paradigm shift in solid waste management in the State, adding that this has led to the establishment and promotion of effective recycling of all recyclables which has become inevitable in the state.

Gaji, represented by the Director of Sanitation Services, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth said that the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in collaboration with Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government and Community Development Council (CDC) is committed to promoting the Community Recyclables management project in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, adding that the project will ensure the removal of used pet bottles and plastics from Ifako Ijaiye and its environs.

The Permanent Secretary said the project in Ifako community entails the placement of eight steel mesh receptacles at strategic locations where citizens of the community are encouraged to drop used PET bottles and containers, adding that the launching at Ifako is the second as the pilot scheme located within the Complex of the Ministry in Alausa was launched in the year 2020.

He mentioned that the gospel of waste sorting from the source was gradually gaining ground as individual pickers of recyclable items have increased while recycling firms are continually springing up and final off-takers are getting busier with everyone harvesting their income, along the waste management value-chain.

“It is important to note that the successful implementation of the project will result in a cleaner and healthier environment and the elimination of solid waste from drainages preventing clogging and flooding”, he said.

In his welcome address, the Chairman Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, Hon. Usman Hamzat commended the State Government for finding the Local Government worthy to be the first to benefit from the community recyclables management project.

He pledged that the Local Government will ensure that advocacy is stepped up to ensure a clean and healthy environment by introducing sustainable initiatives to meet the recycling and waste management needs of residents in the community.