In Nigeria, U.S. soft drink company Coca-Cola is partnering with the federal government to accelerate the recycling of tons of plastic that are clogging up landfills and waterways. The project, implemented by the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), will eventually recycle 8,910 tons of waste per year to reduce pollution in six of the country's 36 states.
While Nigeria generates at least 5.96 million tons of plastic waste per year according to the World Population Review, the authorities of this West African country want to change this by focusing on recycling. To do so, the Nigerian federal government and the American soft drink giant Coca-Cola are launching a recycling program called the Cycle Plast Project aimed at ridding the country of 8,910 tons of plastic waste (water and yoghurt bags, edible oil and detergent bottles, etc.) each year.
The project is led by the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC) established in 2018 as collaboration between the World Bank and the federal government to develop the green economy. It will be implemented in 6 states including Kano, Adamawa, Abia, Kwara, Edo, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Focus on sustainable development
“The goal is to promote a plastic waste free environment through changed behavior and proper disposal habits of communities, while creating jobs and unlocking opportunities along the plastic waste recycling value chain in Nigeria. As a major player in plastic pollution, Nigeria must begin to take steps that will creatively lead to waste disposal,” says Bankole Oloruntoba, NCIC’s executive director.
According to Amaka Onyemelukwe, Coca-Cola’s Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability in Nigeria, some 2 billion bottles have already been collected under the initiative with the support of 990 informal sector waste operators, or 165 agents who will collect 743 tons of plastic waste per month in each state covered by the project.
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In addition, the US firm recently announced that it has invested $3 million (N1.244 billion) over the past three years in waste recovery projects to combat environmental pollution in Nigeria.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
