••Holds Outreach, Distributes Reusable Bags
As part of its effort to combat plastic pollution in the country, ‘’The Switch Community & Why Waste It”, a non-for profit organisation recently held a market outreach in Lagos where they educated consumers on the need to use reusable bags in packaging their items.
The outreach which was part of the organisation’s activities to mark the 2024 World Earth Day, gave the organisers opportunity to distribute reusable bags to consumers.
Speaking at the programme which came under the theme, ‘’ plastics out, totes in,’’ Founder, The Switch Community & Why Waste It, Bola Ramos, said the event was ideal as it also educated the participants on the dangers of plastic pollution on the atmosphere as well as the environment.
Explaining further, she said, ‘’We embarked on this outreach so as to educate those at the grass root, to let them know the consequences of plastic pollution and how it contributes to climate change, such as the heat waves and pollution in our environment.
“We also want to educate them on ideas they can adopt instead of doing things the regular way and causing havoc in the environment’’
She frowned at the way Nigerians are consuming plastic bags, adding “if we keep on going like this, the effect of production of these plastic bags will negatively affect the generation to come.
“The greenhouse gasses is attracting heat in the atmosphere and that is the reason we are experiencing excessive heat’,’ she added.
While commending the Lagos state government on the ban of production of Styrofoam food packs she said: “before the ban, when you look at the drainages, the canals , gutters and market places, you will see loads and loads of the food packs.’’
On the other hand, she appealed to government to place restriction on the production of plastic bags in the country.
Explaining further, she said; “Government should look at the long term effect of the production of plastic bags on our environment.
“If we are looking at the money we make now from the production of plastics, we will be destroying our environment and it is going to effect the unborn generation badly.
“Manufacturers of plastic bags should focus on the production of re-usable bags made of silk, cotton among others. When there is enough re –usable bags, it will go a long way in reducing the use of plastic bags which will in turn play a vital role in the elimination of plastic bag usage.
“Take for instance, you do not enter in to Kenya with plastic bags, such a thing can be initiated in Nigeria’’.
Some of the participants at the event who were also recipients of the re-usable bags lauded the organisers of the event describing the outreach as an eye opener.
World Earth Day is celebrated every April 22 to demonstrate support for environment protection.
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