USAID, foundation launch environmental conservation programme

THE United States Agency for International Development ( USAID), in collaboration with The CocaCola Foundation, yesterday announced the launch of the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity ( NPSA).

This impactful initiative, funded equally by the duo with a combined investment of $ 4 million, tackles the critical challenge of plastic waste management in Nigeria through innovative recycling solutions.

Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental concern globally and in Nigeria, with an estimated 2.5 million metric tons of plastic waste generated annually; there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate its impact on the environment and public health.

They said the primary objective of the NPSA is to recover approximately 49,000 metric tons of plastic waste in Nigeria while upscaling the collection capacity of over 24 aggregators and 9,500 collectors.

In addition, the program aims to create over 10,000 green jobs, driving circularity in plastic waste management and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment.

At the launch event, USAID Mission Director, Melissa Jones, said, “In addition to improving the environment, plastic collection, sorting, aggregating, processing and manufacturing offers employment opportunities. Small and medium scale enterprises and entry- level and semiskilled workers particularly stand to benefit from this new value chain.”

U. S. Consul General, Will Stevens noted the U. S. Government’s commitment to the new project.

“By incentivising recycling as a means of averting plastic pollution, we protect the planet, create jobs, empower youth and other marginalized groups, and foster sustainable development. We must persist in collaborating, innovating, and implementing solutions to address this urgent issue.