By Felicia Nwosu

The Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd has initiated a neighbourhood-based recycling bank in Lagos and Abuja, respectively, to tackle the environmental crisis posed by plastics waste in these two major cities.

In Lagos State, the selected strategic locations include Ifako-Ijaiye housing estate and Agege among the 10 communities chosen to benefit from the facilities.

This is to enable some of these communities to benefit from the recycling banks, as available places where they can deposit recyclable household waste and other materials such as textiles and books.

The company revealed some of the required materials that will be making their way into the recycling bank.

“These hubs will collect polythene terephthalate bottles (PET bottles), allowing residents to convert plastic waste into cash.

“The facilities will serve as a hub for collecting polythene terephthalate bottles, otherwise referred to as ‘PET bottles,’ and give residents an opportunity to turn their plastic waste into cash,” it stated.

The Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director of Nigerian Bottling Company, Oluwasoromidayo George, said the need to address current global challenges associated with single-use plastics was important.

She said, “We recognise that there is an urgent need to create solutions to some of the challenges that the world is facing today with single-use plastics.”

The Director of Waste Management, Adeoye Babajide, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Omobolaji Gaji, commended the company for creating a sustainable environment for Nigerians.