Anambra partners UNDP on waste-to-wealth project, employs 300

Anambra state and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have jointly set up a Compost and Recycling Plant for the treat­ment of household waste and other plastic materials,

which are converted into organic manure and useful materials that will ultimate­ly create viable options for waste to wealth ventures in the state. This move was to rid Anambra of filth.  

The composite recycling plant, which was commis­sioned early in the week by the state Governor, Chief Wil­lie Obiano, was initiated in 2011 following the selection of Anambra and Kano States for the pilot study but it was not un­til 2014 that work commenced on the Anambra project.

Speaking during the flag-off, Governor Obiano said the mini-plant would convert waste to wealth and pointed out that the project would be replicated in all the local gov­ernment areas and major cities of the state.

He said: “This initiative is one way of ensuring that we live in clean and healthy envi­ronment. We started by ensur­ing that all blocked drainages are opened, and the residents are expected to collate their refuse in three designated bags according to direction and drop them at designated points where they would be collected by refuse contractors. “

Governor Obiano further disclosed that the state govern­ment had engaged eight refuse collection contractors, who were expected to ensure that the wastes were collected and deposited at the appropriate sites.

He equally said that fenc­ing of major dumpsites in the state was underway and that the waste would ultimately become useful materials with economic value.

Governor Obiano noted that the organic manure produced from the plant would support the government’s agricultural programme and stressed the need for continuous enlighten­ment of the people on the pro­gramme.

In his remarks, the Commis­sioner for Environment, Chief Evarist Uba, observed that the state provided land for the project while the UNDP built the structure and provided the equipment.

Chief Uba explained that refuse bins of different colours would be distributed to house­holds to collect and separate their waste, which the Anam­bra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) would later collect for processing. He stated that, in addition, to the organic manure for agriculture, the recycled plastic materials would be supplied to plastic manufacturing companies.

Earlier, the Managing Di­rector of ASWAMA, Mr. Phil Chinwuba, said the plant was community-based and would serve between 200 ad 300 households, and had a capacity to employ 25 workers.

The Chairman, Awka South Local Government Council, Mr. Azubuike Iloh, urged the people to imbibe the culture of proper disposal of waste to maintain a healthy environ­ment.

In his remarks, the state Sec­retary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. William Obiora, said the plant would help to provide effec­tive solution to the challenge of reducing the burden of waste management.