ANAMBRA AIMS TO RECYCLE ONE MILLION PLASTIC BOTTLES — ASWAMA
Reporter : BEN ILECHUKWU
The Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) says it is targeting about one million plastic bottles for recycling.
The Managing Director of ASWAMA, Mr. Amechi Akorah, stated this during a mock edition of collection of plastic bottles across the state. Radio Nigeria gathered that the programme was in commemoration of the 2020 World Cleanup Day in Nigeria.
The programme focused on raising volunteering organizations to pick up plastic bottles from across the state for recycling and in maintaining a healthy environment. Mr. Akorah explained that the exercise was mapped out in a bid to remove five million plastic bottles from the streets, drainage channels and canals in Nigeria.
According to Mr. Akorah, the objective was in fulfilment of the global advocacy for a sustainable environment free of pollution. Mr. Akorah while, expressing optimism that the initiative would be sustained, said that they had four collection centres in the state situated in Awka, Onitsha, Ihiala and Umunze.
He urged the citizenry to desist from littering the environment with plastic bottles and other wastes. In their separate interviews, two residents of the area, Mr. Ejimofor Opara and Dr. Nelson Omenugha enjoined youths to join in keeping Anambra state clean.
At the Onitsha collection centre, the General Manager ASWAMA, Mrs Loretta Obi said the plastic bottles were of enormous benefits when recycled. At Nnobi, a volunteer, Mr. Amaka Obi, harped on the need for proper desilting of drainage to avoid blockage of flood ways.
Contributing, another’s participant, Dr. Helen Obi who is the state Commissioner, Nigeria Girls Guild Association, enumerated ways of managing the environment. Also, a participant and a staff with National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) stated that of the recycled plastic bottles had a lot of benefits.
The programme tagged “Five Million Plastic Challenge” was Organized by the agency in partnership with some non-govermental organizations and non-profit oriented organizations.