Minister promises to encourage use of recycled materials

The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed on Tuesday promised to encourage use of recycled materials in the country.

Mohammed made the promise at the 9th National Stakeholders Forum tagged: “Environmental Best Practices in Waste Control, Initiative and Innovations’’ in Abuja.

She assured that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), would be implemented to promote waste reduction.

She explained that EPR ensures that manufacturers imbibed cleaner production principles of conserving raw materials and energy.

According to her, the objective of EPR is to ensure that wastes from products are minimised and reused in one form or the other.

The minister, represented by Mr John Alonge, Director, Environmental Assessment Department in the ministry, said EPR would also help to increase resource efficiency for sustainable development.

The minister stressed that its implementation in Nigeria must be taken seriously.

She stated that many countries had embraced the programme and were succeeding.

“The government will ensure full implementation of the law and all environmental offenders must be prosecuted.

“Our laws must be obeyed by all and sundry, nobody or institution is above the law as there will be no exception’’, she said.

She said that EPR had been proven to be effective tool to best practices in attaining developmental goals.

Mohammed added that industries needed to adopt environmental best practices to support government in ensuring a healthy and safe environment.

She noted that the agency had developed operational guidelines for the EPR implementation, adding that some producers had yet to embrace the programme as recommended by the environmental law.

The minister said that the environmental problem required collective responsibility and actions from all stakeholders as the involvement of such stakeholders would promote healthier environment.

Rep. Obinna Chidoka, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, said the National Assembly was committed to ensuring that environmental issues were kept on the front burner of national polity.

Chidoka said the committee would work with all key stakeholders and sectors to address the environmental issues as well as carry out its functions effectively.

He said the committee would also assist NASREA to ensure that ERP programme was implemented.

Mr Lawrence Anukam, the Director-General of the agency, said the forum would review best environmental methods in waste control.

According to Anukam, the forum will also examine various waste streams and explore initiatives and innovations in waste control that can be applied to local circumstances.

The forum was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.