• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Abia to set up multi-million naira waste recycling plant

A world without waste: Achieving transformative environmental change

The Abia government plans to establish a multi-million naira waste recycling plant in Aba, Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu, the deputy general manager, Abia Environmental Protection Agency, Aba zone, has said.

Ikpeazu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Umuahia that the state government was consulting with willing investors on the project.

He said that waste generated daily in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, stood at more than 750,000 tons.

“The waste is on the increase because markets spring up in Aba almost on weekly basis.”

Ikpeazu described waste in the area as “multi-mix”, adding that apart from domestic cooking gas and organic manure, the rubbish could be recycled for other economic use.

He said that the agency planned to introduce the use of three refuse bins to sort out refuse at primary sources.

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“We intend to have a green waste bin for bio-degradable waste like vegetable, fruits, pilings of corns.

“Another one will be for non-bio-degradable waste like plastics, spoons, metals, while the other bin will be those that did not fall into the two categories.”

Ikpeazu, recently appointed the deputy general manager of the agency, said his immediate concern was to clear the backlog of refuse in all parts of Abia before advancing to the waste recycling initiative.

“The waste-to-wealth initiative is a multi-million naira project and Abia government cannot tackle it alone given other competing needs; therefore, government might require the involvement of the private sector on the project.”

The deputy general manager said the challenge posed by refuse in Aba required concerted effort to tackle.

“Because markets spring up in Aba at will, it is apt for residents to a play key role in addressing the problem.”