Today, ERA/FoEN took the #ZEROWASTE campaign to some young female adults in Edo State. It was emphasized at the interactive session that the “Zero Waste” management strategy is a panacea to the climate crisis, environmental pollution, and a clean and healthy environment. The strategy seeks to maximize recycling, minimize waste, reduce consumption, and ensure that products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.
The event was hosted by Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) in collaboration with the Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) Youth ambassadors, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Zero Waste Ambassadors and Students Environmental Assembly of Nigeria, University of Benin Chapter. It was held at Iyoba Girls College (Senior and Junior) in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.
Speaking to the students and teachers, ERA/FoEN Project Officer Waste Management, Melody Enyinaya stated that poor waste management is not just a challenge to the environment but also a contributor to the ongoing global climate crisis. She cited the current heat waves that have ravaged Nigeria in the past weeks (which have ranged from an average of 41°C in the North to 38°C in the South) as an example of climate change impact. She stated that indiscriminate waste disposal and the menace of single-use plastic are dangerous to our natural habitation, it could lead to flooding and other environmental hazards, Melody added that single-use plastics are made from fossil fuels and contain chemicals that are harmful to the human body.
While encouraging the students to practice waste separation, reduction, and recycling, she warned against waste incineration as it is an improper method of waste disposal, that can cause several environmental and health complications.
The visiting team donated Waste Bins to aid waste segregation in the schools and demonstrated to the students how to prepare waste for recycling. Receiving the donations from ERA/FoEN, the principal of Iyoba Girls College, Pat Akin-Omorodion commended the group for bringing this initiative to her school and, for their exemplary act of providing color-coded waste bins. She stressed that teaching proper waste management to young adults is a good start to proper environmental protection.