NIGERIA – The United Nations Institute for Training And Research (UNITAR) and TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited have disclosed that their plastic recycling plant has in one year, removed and recycled over 200 tonnes of plastic waste into high-quality resins.

The waste-to-wealth plant in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, a partnership between UNITAR and TotalEnergies was commissioned in February last year with a 1000 tonnes capacity capable of saving over 750 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The plant’s capacity is equivalent to planting about 4,500 trees annually and is projected to create over 80 direct and indirect jobs.

Following a visit to measure the progress made thus far, Mrs. Ihuoma Njemanze, UNITAR’s eye on the project, noted: “This project is timely in line with what is happening in the world today.

“Recycling is a very important movement now. Right here we are turning waste plastic into usable material and by doing this, we are promoting circularity.

“So, the presence of the UN on this project shows it is not like any other project you may have witnessed. It is unique in that it is a social project and as same time an environment project, it is also tackling the (SDGs), all in one project.”

Just over a year since established, Obi Imemba, Executive Director, JV Assets, TotalEnergies, says that the venture currently exceeds the set target of 15 employees to 40 direct staff and numerous indirect staff.

“We have also removed and recycled over 200 tonnes of waste plastic into high-quality resins. These demonstrate TotalEnergies’ commitment to our host communities and the planet,” noted Imemba.

This is just one of the collaborative projects in Nigeria that seeks to scale the rate of recycling and manage plastic waste in the West African country.

Last month, Unilever Nigeria teamed up with Bridges Outcomes Partnerships and social enterprise Wecyclers to manage plastic waste in Nigeria.

The partnership has been established through a “Development Impact Bond” structured by the French investment bank Societe Generale.

Under this partnership, the joint project TRANSFORM, which received pooled funding from Unilever, the UK government and EY, will collectively raise funds to help Wecyclers expand its franchise and collection model across the country.

All the partners involved hope this experience in Nigeria will inspire the further development and use of such Bonds globally to finance organizations tackling similar challenges.

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