Environment Commissioner Harps on Plastic Recycling for Sustainability
By Lucky Isibor
The newly sworn-in Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Arc. Joshua Omokhodion has emphasised the essence of plastic recycling in the protection of the environment and sustainability of livelihood in communities, noting that it is capable of creating employment opportunities and empowerment for the people.
Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability
Omokhodion who stated this Friday, 23 June, while commissioning the customised wasted bins for plastics provided by the Edo State government noted that emphasis is now being laid on separation of plastics and other wastes globally to make it easy for recycling to keep the environment healthy, adding that the initiative came after the celebration of this year's 'World Environment Day' with the theme, "Solution to Plastic Pollution", held earlier on 5 June.
While noting that the environment is the fulcrum on which the people's well being revolves around, Omokhodion who resumed duties in the Ministry earlier that day, pointed out that the plastic customised waste bins will be placed at strategic locations within the Edo State Government Secretariat where all plastics and polyethylene materials shall be disposed henceforth and appealed for cooperation of members of the public on the initiative adding that it's a pilot scheme that will be expanded to every nook and cranny of the state.
"The essence of this is to ensure that anyone coming into Edo State will see a remarkable difference in terms of the well being of our people, because the well being of our people to a large extent depends on the economic survival of our people, and without good environment, there's no way you'll thrive in any business or education in the state. So, the fulcrum of our well being is the environment.
"The focus of the ministry right now is how best to achieve optima in delivering on the environmental situation in the state.
"As a follow up to the world environment day held on 5 June, emphasis was laid on how to separate plastics from other wastes with the theme, "Solution to Plastic Pollution", and like it's done in every civilised society, wastes are not muddled together, but they're separated into plastic, paper and others with separate bins both in the office and residential areas, such that when those who do the recycling of these wastes come for pickup, it's easy for them to separate for their different recycling needs".
While commending Governor Godwin Obaseki for the initiative, Omokhodion stated, "His Excellency Mr Governor has in his wisdom decided that as a government, we must lead by example and all waste bins be placed in strategic locations within the Edo State Government Secretariat, so that at every point in time anyone wants to drop any plastic waste, it should be dropped in these bins. In other words, it becomes a challenge or even an offence for anyone to drop plastic on the floor or any where else within the building.
"This is a pilot scheme, after this, it will go round the entire state. We'll also be educating the people that a lot of wealth can be created out of this. There's so much in the waste industry that will create employment, economic survival for the people. Therefore, we are commissioning this today so that we can be seen to be leading by example and hope our people follow us to achieve our goal".
While appealing to Edo people to collaborate with Edo State government and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability to ride Edo State of wastes, especially plastics, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Joel Edionwe urged the people to harness the economic benefits of the wastes they generate.
"We want Edo people to collaborate with Edo State government and the ministry in getting our state rid of wastes, especially plastic wastes because they're not biodegradable", he noted.
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