As parts of efforts to sustainably tackle the rising issue of plastic pollution and promote sustainable waste management, the Ogun State Government has launched two combative initiatives.
The initiatives, according to the State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya are designed to drive a circular economy, while offering economic benefits to residents of the state.
Oresanya, made known the initiatives at the 2025 World Environment Day, held at the palace of the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola with the theme, “Beating Plastic Pollution.”
Oresanya made it known that the state would implement the ‘Plastic for Cash’ and Blue Box initiatives, two transformative programmes aimed at reducing plastic waste, incentivising recycling, and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
The Commissioner said, “recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics and a newly released UN-Habitat report revealed that Nigeria generates over 35 million metric tonnes of waste annually, with Ogun State accounting for more than 1.6 million metric tonnes of this volume”.
“Of the waste generated daily in Nigeria, about 32,000 metric tonnes are plastics.
“Here in Ogun State, we recycle approximately 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic daily, thanks to the activities of eight notable plastic recycling companies operating within the state.”
While highlighting the scale of the challenge, he lamented that single-use plastics such as bottles, caps, cigarette filters, shopping bags, disposable cups and straws are contributing significantly to environmental degradation.
He noted that these materials are now choking water bodies, contaminating land, and posing a grave threat to ecosystems across the country.
“The time to act is now. Plastic pollution has grown into a global crisis, and we must adopt decisive, community-driven solutions to stem the tide.”
The commissioner explained that the newly launched initiatives they are not only about environmental protection, but also about economic empowerment and behavioural change.
“The Plastic for Cash Initiative is not just a policy, it is a movement. A movement to incentivise behavioural change,” he said.
He said through the programme, residents will be encouraged to sort and exchange their plastic waste for cash or other valuable items.
He said this would serve the dual purpose of reducing plastic pollution while providing income-generating opportunities for youth, women, and low-income earners.
“On the other hand, the Blue Box Initiative, which is to be driven by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, will introduce a systematic, house-to-house waste segregation model”, he said.
The Commissioner said the programme is designed to enable residents to separate recyclable waste from organic and general waste at the point of generation.
”The Blue Box Initiative ensures efficient collection, enhances recycling, and reduces the burden on our landfills
“The combination of these two initiatives forms the backbone of our strategy to mainstream waste-to-wealth, promote environmental responsibility, and drive climate-smart urban development.”
In further support of these initiatives, Oresanya revealed that the state government has also set up a plastic management committee composed of key stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, manufacturers’ associations, and academic institutions.
He said this committee is charged with overseeing the implementation of the single-use plastic management fund, which will support the buy-back programme and facilitate job creation across the plastic recycling value chain.
He added that beyond policies and programmes, addressing plastic pollution requires a shift in individual and collective behaviour.
“Beating plastic pollution is not a one-day event, it is a lifestyle change, a policy priority, and a collective responsibility that must be embraced by all,” Oresanya said.
The commissioner expressed optimism that with sustained public awareness, strategic partnerships, and community involvement, Ogun State would lead the way in sustainable waste management and circular economic practices in Nigeria.
On his part, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Oba Saka Matemilola called on residents of the State to use plastic responsibly, saying that human activities with the use of plastics degrade and pollute the environment.
He noted that everybody, irrespective of the status has a role to play in ensure proper management of plastics in the state.
