Ayodele Olalere
As a way of alleviating the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on low income earners, an organisation, African Clean Up Initiative, has embarked on sensitisation programme on the use of recyclables to earn income.
The programme tagged ‘Double Double’, which last till end of July 2020, would enable low income earners and Lagosians in general to earn double of the amount of every one kilogramme of recyclables collected.
At one of such program in Alagbado community in Lagos, residents of the area were seeing bringing recyclables such plastics in large quantity in exchange for financial reward.
According to the organisation’s Communication Manager, Blessing Onyelekwe, every 1kg of recyclables collected attracts N40 as against the normal N20. She said the initiative was to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 on less privileged families.
“We are here to encourage community members to be environmental responsible and sustainable. We realised the period we are in now, which is the rainy season. There are lots of flooding due to rainy season and.blocked drainages caused by wastes and recyclables,” she said.
“So, we are trying to tell everyone the importance of being environmentally responsible. We are also trying to financial intervention for Covid-19 pandemic because we realised this really affected lots of families financially.
“So, we are paying double of the amount of one kilogram of recyclables pet bottles that the community brings. For every 1kg that is brought by individual, instead of giving them N20, we pay them N40,” she added.
The organisation thanked members of the community for their turn up, adding the wastes would be used to produce other products.
” We are glad for the turn out. We have someone who came all the way from Otta with her recyclables. At the end of the day, we take the recyclables to recyclers who turn them to other products,” says Blessing.
The next phase of the initiative would be in Ajegunle, a slum in the state.
