The Adamawa State Government and the World Bank have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a recycling plant in Yola, as part of efforts to tackle plastic pollution.
Mr Muhammed Muhammad, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Development, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Yola.
According to Muhammad, the plant, when completed, will support efforts to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for residents of the state.
“We have concluded plans to install a recycling plant that will harvest plastic waste across the state and convert it into useful products. Some of the items to be recycled include chairs, beds, interlocking tiles, among others,” he said.
He noted that although the project was initially sited in Gombi Local Government Area, poor road infrastructure and epileptic power supply necessitated its relocation to Yola, the state capital.
The commissioner further stated that the government was engaging major beverage producers, including Adamawa Beverages and Coca-Cola, to promote the use of paper-based packaging as a sustainable alternative.
“We are encouraging manufacturers to shift from plastic to eco-friendly materials in order to reduce environmental impact,” he added.
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Muhammad revealed that the ministry had commenced the registration and regulation of waste management operators across the state to ensure proper and safe waste disposal practices.
He said all waste handlers had been summoned, profiled, and instructed to dump refuse only at designated, government-approved sites.
He also cautioned against the use of children in waste collection and recycling activities, stressing that the government would not tolerate child labour in the sector.
Highlighting some of the ministry’s recent achievements, Muhammad stated that the state had reintroduced monthly sanitation exercises, banned indiscriminate tree felling, and trained women in the production of eco-friendly cooking briquettes.
He affirmed that the waste-to-wealth initiative reflects the commitment of the Governor Ahmadu Fintiri-led administration to building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Adamawa.
