From Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
As part of activities marking the 2025 World Environmental Day, Ogun State government yesterday unveiled the Plastic for Cash and Blue Box initiatives as part of efforts to combat plastic pollution and environmental degradation.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who stated this at the palace of the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, at Oke-Agoowu, said unveiling the two initiatives with the theme, ‘Beating Plastic Pollution,’ was not only timely, but critical to the state’s ecosystem.
Oresanya noted that plastic products such as bottles, caps, shopping bags and cups had grown into a global crisis affecting our water bodies, polluting lands and infiltrating the food chain.
He said residents would now be exchanging sorted plastic waste for cash and value-based items, stressing that the process would not only turn waste to wealth, but also reduce plastic pollution and environmental degradation, which in turn creates economic opportunities, particularly for youths, women and low income earners.
Also speaking at the unveiling of the two initiatives, the wife of the governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun said apart from citizens benefiting from the initiatives on plastic recycling, they would also ensure maintenance of waste disposal.
Mrs Abiodun urged residents to support the initiatives and make sure they have cleaner and safer environment, as the growing crisis of plastic pollution had been affecting health, economy and the planet.
Earlier, Oba Matemilola called for attitudinal change from residents on how they carelessly dispose their plastic waste as it does not only cause environmental degradation, but also affects aquatic life in rivers.
