LAWMA Sensitises Students on Proper Waste Management

Uchechukwu Nnaike
To ensure a clean and health environment in schools and the society, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has advised students to seek ways of turning waste to wealth by re-using and recycling them. Speaking during a Children’s Day programme with the theme, ‘Recycling: A Secured Future for Our Children’, organised by the agency recently, the Executive Chairman, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejokun advised schools to provide various bins to sort their wastes into categories.

“We should endeavour to handle our wastes properly in public places such schools and others. If we separate these wastes from the beginning, it will make it easier for us to recycle. Let us look at ways of recycling to wealth our wastes such as sachet water packs, pet plastics bottles, cartoons and aluminium cans, among others.” According to him, recycling of wastes serves better purpose in the sense that it creates employment and invariably wealth. “This is one way we can help create more jobs that will lead to a more secured Nigeria for our children.” In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on the Environment, Mr. Saka Fafunmi, said the state is re-strategising its waste management focus to ensure a cleaner Lagos.

He explained that the state government downsised street sweepers in order to weed out the indolent among them. “The state government is planning to improve on their activities by changing some of the old hands who are not performing and replacing them with those who have the zeal to do the job.” He said that with an envisaged increase in the state’s population in the near future, this is the right time to cultivate the culture of waste handling. He urged the children to be ambassadors of change that would impact on their immediate environment and the larger society.

“Today, what you consider to be waste could be a great source of wealth to some people as well as materials to many companies. I want you to go home and advise your parents against throwing wastes indiscriminately, especially in public and restricted places. I also want you to go home with a strong conviction that you want to be agents of change that will make a difference in your immediate community.” Other speakers harped on the need for students to be ambassadors of recycling since most of the materials that block drainages are usually recyclable wastes. The event featured the exhibition of materials such as chair, table mat, broom, table, and other items that students produced from waste materials.

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