Carrington youth fellowship launches green clubs in schools to tackle plastic pollution

Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), an initiative established by the US Consulate, has launched green clubs in secondary schools in Lagos.

The initiative, themed ‘Save The Environment’, was launched on Thursday as part of the organisation’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability among students.

Lawrence Akpoterai, representative of the CYFI environment team, said students of Orile Agege Community High School and Eko Junior College have been trained in the collection and recycling of plastic waste.

Akpoterai said the launch of the club is to commemorate Environment Day, and to ensure the sustained participation of students in proper waste disposal.

“The students have gathered PET bottles from their schools and communities into a wastebin provided within the school premises,” he said.

“While Ecobata, CYFI recycle partners, have been evacuating the plastics on a weekly basis and converting them into more valuable use. Our target is to collect over 10,000 PET bottles to be recycled before the end of today.

“These students have been trained and we want to be sure that we leave them with something that can be sustained even in our absence. 

“This is why we are launching a club that will promote environmental sustainability within their schools and also extensively in their various environments.

“I encourage members of staff to give them all the necessary support so that these students will become environmental champions.”

‘WASTE NOW CONSIDERED RESOURCES’

Olumide Idowu, co-founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICDDI), educated the students on Goal 13 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) with a focus on climate action.

Idowu urged the students to strive to be consistent in their actions to make the environment clean, as well as to see plastic waste as an opportunity to make money.

“When people talk about climate change, they quickly switch the focus back to waste management because that is the problem that many can see and understand,” he said.

“Over the years, we have been talking about waste management but we continue to have more waste in our communities. However, most waste is now considered as resources.

“Every waste you see now is money but our attitude towards the environment is very key. The essence of giving back is recycling. Children must know that everything can be recycled and reused, not just pet bottles.”

Toyin Oguntola, assistant director of Lagos state ministry of environment and water resources, said single-use plastic is the leading cause of pollution in the state.

Oguntola said the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste is an environmental menace that requires the collective effort of the government and the people to tackle.

“The major polluters, which are the companies that produce and package their foods and beverages with plastics will have to pay or be forced to find alternatives,” she added.