Stakeholders in the environment sector have called for stricter measures to control plastic pollution and its growing damage to the environment .
The call was made at the ‘Plastic Waste Sustainability Summit’ organized by Anambra State Waste Recyclers Association, ASWRA, in conjunction with the Anambra State Ministry of Environment in Awka.
In his address, the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, said recycling hubs and banks are being set up across Anambra State in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo agenda on waste to wealth, adding that plastic wastes can be taken to these hubs and exchanged for cash or other valuable items.
Speaking virtually, the Minister of State for Environment and Ecology, Dr Izag Salako, said that over 1.5 million tonnz of plastic waste generated annually in Nigeria are posing serious threat to food safety and quality.
He commended the Anambra State Government for the vision of a clean, green and sustainable initiative, calling on all stakeholders to come together to put a stop to plastic menace in the country.
Dr Salako also added that the federal government is planning on establishing more recycling hubs in the country to help in converting waste to wealth.
The keynote speaker, Dr David Onuoha who addressed the topic “overcoming plastic pollution through community empowerment, capacity building and stakeholders’ participation: A focus on the communities in Anambra State”, listed some of the causes of plastic pollution to include inadequate waste management, consumer behavior, lack of awareness, plastic production, ineffective regulations, packaging practices, natural events and population growth, adding that the sustainability routes include reuse, recycle, reduce, remove, replace and management and value chain initiative.
The Secretary to Anambra State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu in an interview with newsmen said waste has to be desposed in an environmental friendly manner, stating that our drinages are messed up.
According to Chukwulobelu “People create problems for themselves by disposing waste on drinages and flood comes, the ask government to come and help them. It is everyones responsibility and if everyone to the right thing, we will make progress”.
ASWRA convener, Barr Phillips Obuesi while speaking said it is necessary for all residents to subscribe to the clean, green and sustainable Anambra by changing their attitudes towards the environment.
Obuesi who is the CEO Statewide Waste Environmental Education Program (SWEEP) Foundation in an interview with reporters added that despite the fact that he is based in Lagos, it was necessary for him to come back to Anambra and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.
In his words “Their will be a remarkable difference in Anambra state by the end of the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in terms of wast management.
“Government needs to create policy that will give legal backing to the actions of ASWRA. More advocacy, awearness and sensitization should be made.
“I commend the ministry of environment led by Dr Felix Odimegwu, their activities in the last four months have been massive.
“It is important to provide an enabling environment for investments in the recycling business, noting that government is ready to support the efforts geared towards the conversion of waste to wealth, waste to biogas, waste to compost manure, waste to energy and waste to other useful products
ANN reports that the sustainability summit featured presentation of awards, prizes to companies and communities that participated in the just concluded “All Community Plastic Challenge”.
