Ecobank Nigeria’s campaign to rid the environment of non-biodegradable materials is yielding results as Lagos residents have continued to go the Lagos sewage treatment plant at Amuwo Odofin to exchange used plastic bottles for cash.
In a statement on Monday, the bank said that to mark its 2019 Sustainability Week, Ecobank Nigeria asked residents of Lagos State to submit used plastic materials like soft drink and water bottles to designated collection points to exchange them for cash.
The locations included Ecobank branches in Ikorodu, Ojuelegba, Ketu, Allen, Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island and the Lagos sewage treatment plant in Amuwo Odofin .
The campaign started on Friday, May 17 and would end on Friday May 24.
While kick starting the week long campaign tagged, “Get cash for plastic bottles’ at the Lagos sewage treatment plant, the Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan, said the initiative was part of a deliberate policy of the bank to support environmental sustainability for all.
He said,“Our sustainability activities are part of the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The idea for this is to support the removal of non-biodegradable materials from the environment to support healthy and safe living.
“Our target is to remove at least four million used plastic bottles from the streets and drains of Lagos through this initiative.”
Akinwuntan said the bank was collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Alkem Nigeria Limited, a waste recycling firm, to remove at least four million bottles constituting menace to the environment within a week.
“Plastic waste is seriously affecting our food, oceans, harming marine life and threatening our food chain. As a responsible corporate organisation, we will do all it takes to check the trend to ensure a safer living environment. This is an opportunity for Lagos residents to make money by taking used plastics to any of our collection centres in exchange for cash.”
In the statement, while commending Ecobank, the Assistant Director, Ministry of Environment, Lagos State, Lasisi Adedoyin, observed that the initiative would go a long way in improving the environment.
While explaining the various efforts of Lagos State government to ensure a safer environment, he urged other corporate organisations to emulate Ecobank.
He called on residents to avail themselves the opportunities provided by the bank and its partners to earn quick cash through collection of used plastics.