Skip to main content

Plastic Recycling: LAWMA Visits Facility

The Lagos Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA), and the state's Ministry
of the Environment, have paid a field visit to Polysmart, a wholly
indigenous multimillion dollar plastic recycling facility, located in
Aiyetoro, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to explore areas of partnership,
towards solving plastic pollution challenge in the state and across the
country.

The firm which began production in 2021, is into complete recycling of
used plastic bottles, from collection to the production of six million
food grade pet bottles on daily basis.

Speaking during the facility tour of the factory, the Managing
Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, noted that the
establishment of that firm was a dream come through, in actualization of
the uncommon diligence and determination of the management team of the firm.

He said," This is a strong indicator that LAWMA is making all best
possible efforts at ensuring plastic pollution is tackled in the state
and here we are with Polysmart. I could remember vividly the day I met
with the MD and we discussed on the possibility of having a collection
system for solid waste. I must commend you and your team for your
resilience".

"In a state where we have about 12 million of used plastic, if Polysmart
collects 7million on a daily basis, gradually, plastic pollution will go
off and we will have a plastic free environment. That is why LAWMA is
advocating the two bin system for the collection of waste and sorting of
recyclables", he stressed.

Odumboni however challenged the firm to work with LAWMA Academy, to
boost knowledge of waste management among the children and youth in the
state.

Also Speaking, the permanent secretary of the Office of Environmental
Services of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr.
Omobolaji Gaji, expressed delight in the company's initiative, stressing
that the emergence of Polysmart will no doubt help the ministry and
LAWMA to provide a lasting solution to plastic pollution epidemic in
Lagos State.

In his words, " This is a testament that some people still believe so
much in Nigeria and to see this coming from a Nigerian, it is a great
motivation. From all that have been said and seen, it is obvious that
this will curb the deposition of plastics in our drainage channels and
the environment. It will serve as a source of income as well as
employment for people, who will be involved in the sorting and
collection process.

While pledging his support to the company, Gaji also promised that the
Lagos State government will work with other stakeholders to support the
company's vision.

The Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Wasiu Balogun, who conducted the
visitors round the facility, noted that the firm was established with
the primary aim of solving the plastic mess and for employment
generation.

He disclosed that the facility, which is first of its kind in Africa,
would have a daily requirement of about 7 million used bottles, for
non-stop running of the plant, which he disclosed, was wholly coupled by
Nigerian engineers and technicians, without foreign assistance.

Balogun promised total cooperation with LAWMA and the state government,
to increase the cost per kilogram of used plastic, harvested by
households in the state and beyond.

The field visit involved the entire LAWMA management team, including the
executive director of finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi.

Folashade Kadiri
Director, Public Affairs
LAWMA
18th April, 2023

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LAWMA Warns Property Owners Against Illegal Recycling and Scavenging Activities… vows prosecution of violators

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has issued a stern warning to property owners, agents and private occupiers in the state, to henceforth desist from illegal recycling and scavenging in unlicensed facilities. It also advised them to halt indiscriminate sorting, dumping, storing and trading of recyclable waste in their facilities and in public spaces around them. Commenting on a public notice issued by LAWMA to property owners, agents and private occupiers to that effect, the Managing Director/CEO of the agency, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that such activities not only degraded the city’s aesthetic appeal but also disrupted the rights of property owners, contributing to serious environmental hazards. The final public notice reads: “LAWMA has observed a rising trend of indiscriminate waste sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables in unauthorized locations. These activities violate the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017 and will not b...

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: LAGOS WASTE CHALLENGE OFFTAKE

The Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP Foundation), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and The Coca-Cola Company, is pleased to announce the Lagos Waste Challenge, an inter-community recyclable waste recovery competition among Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Lagos State.  Background As part of the activities leading up to the 5th Lagos Waste Forum, the Lagos Waste Challenge aims to promote sustainable waste management practices and encourage community participation in waste recovery.  Objective: To recover over 114 tons of plastic waste across Lagos State through a competitive process.  Prizes: The competition offers attractive cash prizes for the top three performing communities: 1. 1st Prize: ₦1,000,000 2. 2nd Prize: ₦500,000 3. 3rd Prize: ₦250,000 Call for Interested Aggregators and Offtakers: SWEEP Foundation invites interested aggregators and offtakers to express their in...

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT & LAFARGE AFRICA SIGN MOU ON COLLECTION OF NON-RECYCLABLE COMBUSTIBLE WASTE AROUND THE STATE.

The Lagos State Government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LAFARGE Africa PLC for the collection of non recyclable combustible waste round the state and landfill sites for conveyance to the Ewekoro plant of LAFARGE for conversion as an alternative fuel for production. Speaking during the signing ceremony which took place at Alausa, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab appraised the new agreement, reiterating the commitment of the present administration to continually reduce the quantum of waste that gets to landfills, ultimately leading to zero waste landfill sites.  Wahab reiterated that the state government is determined to continually pay special attention to wastes conversion in the state.  He stressed that the Collaboration between Lagos State and LAFARGE Africa will help achieve the ultimate objective of zero waste situation and  reduce the quantum of the quantity of waste that ends up ...