Lagos, firm partner to tackle packaging waste pollution

Forum 7 months ago

Lagos, firm partner to tackle packaging waste pollution

The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance Chairman, Ziad Maalouf, has affirmed the industry’s continuous partnership with the Lagos State Government to address packaging waste pollution in the state.

Maalouf stated this at the weekend during a ‘Trash Talk’ workshop organised in collaboration with the state government, focusing on “Beating Packaging Waste Pollution in Lagos By 2025.”

Stakeholders from the packaging and bottling industries, government agencies, and the recycling alliance gathered to discuss collective responsibility for packaging waste pollution in Lagos, review the current recycling situation and define the next steps to promote a cleaner Lagos.

The FBRA chair said, “Partnering with the government for this recycling workshop is a testament to our shared commitment to a sustainable future with reduced packaging waste pollution.

“We are truly excited about the opportunity to collaborate, learn, and continuously inspire change together within the state of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. Our goal to beat packaging waste pollution in Lagos by 2025 is one that resonates with our stakeholders and partners. As a collective, we believe our enthusiasm can be spun into action as we pave the way for a greener, cleaner, and more eco-conscious Nigeria.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, stated that the state is working with the FBRA to encourage private-sector participation in packaging waste management within Lagos.

The LASEPA boss said, “‘Keep Lagos Clean’ has been a consistent mantra for our organisation across the years, and our efforts to promote a community around environmental responsibility in Lagos align deeply with the vision and dedication of our esteemed partners at FBRA.

“The Lagos State Government is working with the FBRA to encourage private-sector participation in packaging waste management within Lagos. In order to mirror the progress made in countries like Indonesia and Rwanda on waste management, and we co-facilitated the Trash Talk workshop to further uncover our collective roles in facilitating our sustainable development and address the barriers that hinder the adoption of recycling practices amongst communities.”

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera, said, “Sustainability is the most important conversation there is today globally, and it’s about whether this world will be habitable for us over a period of time. There’s a need for concerted action amongst all stakeholders whose businesses affect the environment in one way or another; this includes regulators, government, civil society, financers, the private sector, and all others.”

During the event, participants established that public-private participation, alongside proper investment and policy incentives, were critical foundations in pushing adoption and compliance with recycling standards across the industry.

Some of the participating organisations include Bank of Industry, Sevenup Bottling Co, Lagos Business School, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Central Bank of Nigeria, World Bank, Zenith Bank, Nestle, Nigerian Bottling Company, Nigerian Breweries, Nigeria National Plastic Action Partnership, Coca Cola, Lagos Recyclers Association, Lafarge, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Embassy of Netherlands, Embassy of Taiwan, USAID, CWAY Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and British American Tobacco.