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Oyo State Government waste management consultant, Mottainai Recycling, on Friday, rewarded traders with gift items during the 3rd edition of “Recyclables for Rewards Drive” held around Bodija Market, Ibadan.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environmental Matters, Engr. Ademola Aderinto, the exercise, which is an Oyo State Government initiative is aimed at creating awareness among traders and residents to segregate their waste at source and recover as much plastics before it enters into the water bodies and landfills.
He said that the event showcases the economic and social benefits of recycling, adding that “the event is aimed at making the good people of Oyo State see value in what they consider as waste.”
“These wastes would have otherwise ended up in landfills and water bodies which will contribute to the pollution of the environment,” he added.
Aderinto frowned at the act of dumping waste on the median by the market men and women and also encouraged them to sort out their waste to ease the act of recycling.
The Special Adviser explained that the government will do more to eradicate the issue of improper waste disposal and management in the state.
“There was also an adequate and effective sensitisation and awareness campaign in the market on the need for proper waste management. They were also enlightened on the economic benefits of recycling instead of allowing their recyclables to end up on the median, water bodies or the landfills,” he said.
Speaking, the Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, Mr. Adey Adewuyi, sensitised traders, buyers and passers-by at Bodija market and its environs on how the waste they generate could be a source of wealth.
He urged them to embrace proper waste disposal and management habits like segregating their waste at source.
Speaking through the Chief Sustainability Officer, Deborah Fadeyi, the Managing Director, encouraged them to avoid dumping waste on the median, warning that anybody caught breaking the law would be fined and punished, according to law.
The event which had in attendance Environmental Health Officers, Mottainai Ambassadors and staff encouraged traders to bring out their recyclables in exchange for reward.
The main attraction of the “Recyclables for Reward Drive” saw participants winning instant rewards for their recyclables like PET bottles, cartons and PP, for every 1kg of PET bottles, cartons and PP.
The major highlight of the event was the raffle draw. Lucky winners went home with Bluetooth headsets, customised simple chest bags, and customised faze caps in their numbers.
Executives of the market expressed their gratitude to the company and promised to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle of proper waste disposal habits and recycling.
At the end of the exercise, two tonnes of recyclable waste was recovered.
