USAID,Coca-Cola Foundation initiate $4m investment to tackle plastic pollution in Nigeria 

Business a.m.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Foundation have teamed up to launch the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity (NPSA) initiative, aimed at finding novel recycling solutions for plastic waste in Nigeria. With a collective investment of $4 million ($2 million each), the collaborative effort seeks to address the country’s growing plastic waste issue by promoting innovative recycling practices.

The partners highlighted that both plastic pollution has reached alarming levels worldwide, and Nigeria is facing a critical situation as the country generates approximately 2.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste each year. The situation, they noted, calls for concerted action from government, industry, and citizens alike to address the threat that this waste poses to both public health and the environment.

To address this issue,the NPSA stated that its primary objective is to recover approximately 49,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste in Nigeria while upscaling the collection capacity of over 24 aggregators and 9,500 collectors. In addition, the programme aims to create over 10,000 green jobs, driving circularity in plastic waste management and promoting a cleaner, healthier environment.

During the launch event, Melissa Jones, USAID mission director remarked “In addition to improving the environment, plastic collection, sorting, aggregating, processing and manufacturing offers employment opportunities. Small and medium scale enterprises and entry-level and semi-skilled workers particularly stand to benefit from this new value chain.” 

On his part,Will Stevens , the U.S. Consul General highlighted the United States Government’s commitment to the new project. “By incentivizing recycling as a means of averting plastic pollution, we protect the planet, create jobs, empower youth and other marginalized groups, and foster sustainable development. We must persist in collaborating, innovating, and implementing solutions to address this urgent issue. Together, we can build a future where plastics are no longer a threat to our planet but a valuable resource managed responsibly and utilized for the benefit of future generations,” he stated.

Saadia Madsbjerg, president of the Coca-Cola Foundation, said the Foundation places a priority on helping communities become more sustainable by supporting innovative collection and recycling solutions at a local level. 

“We hope this new program in Nigeria serves as a catalyst to drive increased collection and recycling rates as we collectively work towards a more sustainable society, one community at a time,” he added.

Delivering the keynote address, Tokyo Wahab, commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources remarked, “Our policy and advocacy efforts present a paradigm shift on Plastic Waste. We can no longer view it as a disposable commodity; rather, it must be regarded as resource demanding responsible stewardship. We cannot shy away from this responsibility; we must confront it head-on with resolve and determination.”

The launch marks a significant milestone in collective efforts to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable development in Nigeria. Implemented by global non-profit organization, TechnoServe, the partnership underscores the USAID and the Coca-Cola Foundation’s commitment to drive positive change and build a more resilient and environmentally conscious society.