Chidiebere Ugwu, a member of the Coalition for Socioecological Transformation (CoSET), said the ability of Nigeria to recycle just 12% of its waste indicate a massive problem.
He made this known to our correspondent in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
Similarly, the United Nation Organization (UNO), report indicated that of the 2.5 million plastic waste annually generated by Nigeria, it was able to recycle less than 12%, while the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), revealed that plastic consumption in Nigeria jumped by 116.26% percent within a period of 5 years to 1.25 million tons.
Reacting to the twin report of the United Nation Organizations (UNO), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Chidiebere said:
“The report brought to light a very alarming fact about Nigeria’s waste management system. This is a massive problem because it means that there are huge costs involved with dealing with all this rubbish; not just financial but also hidden ones such as pollution and health hazards among others.
“In addition to being an economic burden, these risks can have far-reaching effects on societies too, they impact climate change through things like emissions from landfill sites etcetera.”
Earlier, Jean Bakole, UNIDO’s Country representative said, Nigeria being the most populated nation in this part of the world, with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the nation’s plastic waste problem is on the increase.
Bakole said based on the increase consumption from 578,000 tonnes of plastics in 2007 to about 1,250,000 tonnes today.
Therefore, the per capital plastic consumption has grown by 5% annually from 4kg to 6.5kg. It is estimated that each citizen would consume about 7kg of plastic per year.
Chidiebere, pegged the tripartite problem of waste management in Nigeria around; Proper education, Poor Funding and roles of waste pickers.
He noted that “the Pickers work on waste collection by waste pickers is often unrecognized because they are considered to be among the neglected few in the community. The nature of their jobs involves a lot of physical strength and poses many hazards, but still lacks any form of official recognition.
“There is no doubt that without them a lot could go wrong or be left undone especially considering this fact, despite being vital players in waste collection, awareness is not created about these people who remain invisible at that level nor supported enough”
More than a phrase, “trash-as-cash” should be seen as a change in attitude that can fundamentally alter our perspective.
‘If we think of the term recyclable in Naira signs, this can create a virtuous cycle with citizens, garbage collectors and corporations. Besides saving money by cutting waste disposal fees recycling also brings in revenue through selling reusable materials.
He also noted that,
“There is the education gap, translating into low or zero public knowledge concerning correct handling of wastes. He thus advised “policy makers to seek ways through which they will ensure that all citizens are well enlightened about solid management practices such as: recycling among others. Because lack thereof has been termed as second ignorance towards environmental conservation after illiteracy itself.
He charges state government to prioritize putting more money into waste management funding. “state governments need to prioritize funding for these two areas if we want them closed at all levels otherwise they will always exist like it does now since every sector needs money.
This can only happen when different tiers of government put into consideration financial matters relating with investment in infrastructure development especially those related to technology advancement within our country as well capacity building for sustainability on waste management systems generally but not limited only here.”
Over the years, the mismanagement of plastic waste by Nigerians was not only contaminating the ecosystem, but was also being released into the marine environment, thereby polluting it and threatening biodiversity and negatively impacting the blue economy. Mismanaged Plastic and ineffective waste management is also a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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