A recycling plant designed to run on renewable solar energy has been opened in the Onne community, a known hub for maritime logistics, in the Eleme local government of Rivers State.
The facility, launched by West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals Nigeria, in partnership with Garbage In Value Out (GIVO) after an assessment in 2022, is capable of processing up to 300 kg of plastic waste per day, totalling around 90 metric tons annually.
Justin Okwuofu, community relations manager at the terminal, said the project was an intervention into a community battling environmental waste pollution.
“One of the challenges faced by the community is the problem of environmental degradation. And if you look at most of their drainages, they are all littered with plastic waste. We thought of a sustainable way to eradicate plastics from the drainages and we had to think of a project that will help us to mop up all these plastic bottles in the society and community and also convert them to something useful for the community. So that’s why this idea of a recycling plant came about,” he said.
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The project was also designed with an incentive for recycling. Daniella Sylva, managing director of the West Africa Container Terminal-APM Terminals Nigeria, said community members will be able to “generate income” in exchange for plastic waste.
Victor Boyle-Komolafe, who leads GIVO as CEO, said the plant could prevent about 2,000 metric tons of Carbon dioxide emissions, adding that it supports about 50 indirect jobs and 15 direct jobs monthly.
“This initiative will stimulate economic activity and empower residents because the majority of those engaged in the plant’s operations are from the Onne community with the youths taking center stage,” Sylva said.
The project got the nod from the paramount ruler of Onne as a solution to the community’s drainage challenges.
