LASEPA ADVOCATES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PLASTIC VALUE CHAINS
… Holds Awareness Seminar on Efficient Plastics Waste Management
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has advocated for efficient plastic waste management as a way of protecting the environment from further degradation and serving as a means of revenue generation.
In achieving this, LASEPA in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) on Thursday organised a one-day awareness seminar to sensitise the public on the new circular economy through plastic waste recycling.
The seminar with the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices,” was held at Triple Cee Event Centre, Sabo Yaba.
The Agency’s General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, in his welcome address at the event, emphasised the critical need to address the environmental impact of plastic waste on human health and aquatics.
He called for unified efforts to tackle the pressing global concern, adding that all hands must be on deck to inspire concrete actions that will help mitigate the adverse effects of plastic waste on the environment.
Ajayi commended UNIDO for its pivotal role in environmental consciousness and stressed the need for a collective reassessment of how plastic waste is to be properly managed.
He advocated for adherence to global standards encapsulated in the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, noting that it was the way out in mitigating climate change effects and other environmental challenges.
He further stated that the seminar outlined key objectives, including contributing to inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Nigeria, integrating circular economy principles into plastic waste management, and fortifying plastic value chains, with a focus on enhancing recycling capacity.
Highlighting the seminar’s alignment with the Lagos State Government’s commitment to a clean, safe, and sustainable environment, he showcased various state government policies on environmental protection including, annual tree planting campaigns, effective flood control systems, and comprehensive climate change action plans, all geared towards achieving safe and sustainable environment
Ajayi also drew the attention of relevant stakeholders to the environmental hazards posed by improper plastic disposal, citing unhygienic conditions, soil degradation, and water pollution as some of the adverse effects.
He underscored the importance of regulations that advocated for the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle principles as crucial steps toward safeguarding the environment.
Noting that the ban on single-use plastic within the agency is leading by example in the quest for a more sustainable future, he also decried the increasing rate of single-use plastics, polystyrene, and other non-biodegradable wastes in different parts of the state.
He also emphasised the urgent need to reverse this trend by encouraging reusable plastics or biodegradable materials and advocating for their use.
The seminar’s success reflects a collaborative effort towards sustainable practices and sets the stage for ongoing initiatives to build a resilient and environmentally conscious community. It was well attended by participants from LAWMA, Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV), UNIDO, First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State Mainland Local Government and other organised public and private institutions.
The post LASEPA ADVOCATES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PLASTIC VALUE CHAINS first appeared on Lagos State Government.