In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the “Waste in the City” initiative, - a community-based recycling programme funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP) has called on the government, corporate organizations, and citizens to recalibrate their lifestyles to promote environmental sustainability for a litter-free world. It was a call for more action towards environmental protection for sustainable human living.

The waste and environmental awareness rally which held in Surulere, Lagos State on Thursday, February 24th, brought together diverse stakeholders comprising of environmentalists, collectors, aggregators, recyclers, media, volunteers, regulators, policymakers, associates, and friends, who came together to raise one voice against the environmental pollution and plastic waste situation in the country.

The foundation called for behavioural change in plastic waste management, highlighting a lack of awareness by Nigerians in some communities, as the rally sought to reorientate Nigerians on the benefits of recycling their plastic waste and the opportunity for revenue generation.

Obuesi Phillips, President of SWEEP Foundation, explained that behavioural change was crucial to promoting sustainable plastic waste management which results in more sustainable communities and improved quality of life for residents. He emphasized that there was no better time than now to take action against plastic pollution.

Commenting on the rally, the Surulere Local Government Chairman, Sulaiman Yusuf, represented by the Vice-Chairman, Muiz Dosunmu, commended SWEEP foundation for the initiative, while he reassured them of the council’s support to continue to spread the recycling message to residents of the area and Lagos state in general.

“Waste in the City’’ initiative, a Coca-Cola-funded community-based recycling and implemented by SWEEP Foundation has recorded significant success over the last one year in Surulere environs and continues to empower more and more people across the recycling value chain. So far, 120 recycling cages have been deployed across the Surulere community, impacting over 1,000 active recyclers, empowering over 100 youths and women and extracting over 60,000kg of plastic waste from the environment.

The project is committed to addressing environmental and waste management issues through the provision of the needed recycling infrastructure and drop-off zones, helping consumers who have separated their waste from the source to know how and where to recycle while getting financial benefits. This has led to a win-win situation as the communities are cleaner and the people are empowered through incentives earned from recycling their plastic waste.

Speaking on the importance of the rally, the Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, challenged Nigerians to become more purposeful in handling recyclable materials and expressed the need for rapid behavioral change in communities.

On the impact of the “Waste in the City” initiative, she highlighted that the project has led to the deployment of 120 recycling receptacles, 5 tricycles, a collection and sorting hub in Surulere, Lagos State, and the creation of job opportunities for over 100 youths and women directly while impacting over 1,000 residents of Surulere with financial benefits. “We have seen a significant level of community participation and we are convinced that with the right recycling infrastructure and incentive, plastic pollution will be a thing of the past,” she said.

Also present at the rally were representatives from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Recyclers Association, and Recyclers Association of Nigeria.