Ogechi Nwonye, a social entrepreneur and a recycler based in Enugu state, has taken top social media to educate Nigerians on combatting plastic waste.
Most Nigerian urban and rural areas are surrounded heavily by plastic waste, according to Nwonye.
She lamented that Nigerians buy water sachets and plastic water and dispose of them indiscriminately.
”We can do much better if we start to reduce the amount of plastic we use, Carry our spoons, plate, fork, and cups, and ditch single-use plastic while donating or selling to a recycling center,” she added:
To combat plastic waste, Nwonye urged Nigerians to:
A) We learn the basics of segregating waste from source.
B) If we integrate environmental sustainability into our school curriculum by teaching young ones about it and helping to change behavioural attitudes and lifestyles toward it
They can be taught waste upcycling for remodelling for sustainability and To make beautiful works of arts and crafts while taking climate action.
D) We can curb it if Citizens begin to consider recycling. Every household and business should be mandated to have waste segregation bins for collection and find a recycling center near them to donate it to for free or for incentives. Support local recyclers with local initiatives to combat the plastic challenge.
E) Tax plastic bags at shopping malls and watch people begin to bring their bags, which will help reduce the amount of plastic waste drastically and move our economy from linear to circular.
F) Lastly, the Government should, as a matter of urgency, provide state-of-the-art equipment, machinery, and facilities to curb plastic waste.
”We are often the choice we make; we can all join hands to beat plastic pollution if we adhere to the 3Rs of Waste Management accordingly ( Reduce – Reuse- Recycle,” she concluded.
