The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has teamed up with Coca-Cola Foundation and TechnoServe Nigeria to reduce to the barest minimum, the menace of plastic pollution across Nigeria.
Funded equally by the Sustainability partners, the initiative is worth over $4 million and set to tackle the critical challenge of plastic waste management in Nigeria through innovative recycling solutions.
CSR Reporters reports that plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental concern globally, and Nigeria is no exception.
With the increase in number of plastic waste generated annually, there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate its impact on the environment and public health.
The primary objective of the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity(NPSA) is to recover approximately 49,000 metric tons of plastic waste in Nigeria while upscaling the collection capacity of over 24 aggregators and 9,500 collectors.
In addition, the programme aims to create over 10,000 green jobs, driving circularity in plastic waste management and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment.
President of the Coca‑Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbierg while speaking on the partnership said, “we place a priority on helping communities become more sustainable by supporting innovative collection and recycling solutions at a local level. “We hope this new program in Nigeria serves as a catalyst to drive increased collection and recycling rates as we collectively work towards a more sustainable society, one community at a time.”
At the launch event, USAID Mission director, Melissa Jones remarked that, “In addition to improving the environment, plastic collection, sorting, aggregating, processing and manufacturing offers employment opportunities. Small and medium scale enterprises and entry-level and semi-skilled workers particularly stand to benefit from this new value chain.”
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens reiterated the United States Government’s commitment to the new project. “By incentivizing recycling as a means of averting plastic pollution, we protect the planet, create jobs, empower youth and other marginalised groups, and foster sustainable development. We must persist in collaborating, innovating, and implementing solutions to address this urgent issue.
“Together, we can build a future where plastics are no longer a threat to our planet but a valuable resource managed responsibly and utilised for the benefit of future generations,” he remarked.
This launch marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable development in Nigeria. It underscores the commitment of USAID, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and TechnoServe to drive positive change and build a more resilient and environmentally conscious society.
