Dike Onwuamaeze

Barely one week after the Lagos State Government banned the production and use of single use plastics, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (M AN), has commended the Ogun State Government’s proactive and sustainable approach to managing plastic waste, especially single use plastics in the state.

The MAN said that rather than copying Lagos State’s disingenuous ban of production and use of single use plastics, the Ogun State Government has come out with progressive strategies that balanced environmental sustainability with economic stability.

The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who gave this commendation, said that the association is appreciative of the Ogun State’s initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste, promoting recycling and ensuring a cleaner environment.

Ajayi-Kadir particularly noted the resolve of the government to partner with manufacturers and other operators in the plastic value chain to advance its waste to wealth initiative.

He said: “These efforts align with MAN’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices.”

It should be recalled that the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, recently in Abeokuta during this year’s commemoration of World Environment Day with the theme “Beating Plastics,” highlighted that “plastics for cash” and “blue box” initiatives are among its sustainable approach to managing waste and converting them to wealth in the state.

Under these initiatives, “Plastics for Cash” program would enable residents to exchange sorted plastic waste for monetary value or goods, which would create income opportunities for youth, women and informal waste collectors while the “Blue Box” initiative would promote structured house-to-house waste separation and collection that is driven by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority.

Ogun State Government has also strengthened the implementation of these initiatives with the constitution of Plastic Management Committee (PMC) made up of regulatory agencies, manufacturers and academic institutions.