The Turn Plastic Recycling Foundation recently celebrated its 2nd year anniversary with an event showcasing recycling innovations and capacity building efforts. The foundation, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, aims to redefine waste and make a positive impact on local communities.
The anniversary event, themed “Art, Culture and The Environment,” highlighted the journey and vision of the foundation. It also showcased artists and creatives who are using environmental sustainability as their medium. One artist, Mr. Eugene Komboye, showcased his upcycling creations made from plastic flip flops, while another artist, Mrs. Miracle, used art to promote environmental consciousness.
The event also featured poets who shared their passionate poems about plastic waste management, as well as a professor who created musical instruments from waste in his “Bin to Bank” project. Additionally, the foundation showcased products made from 100% recycled plastic waste.
The Turn Plastic Recycling Foundation recently launched the Train up a Child (TUC) Program, which aims to bring about behavioral change, skills acquisition, and promote waste management. The foundation is committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
During the event, Leo Nwofa, the project manager, highlighted the project’s journey and milestones. He mentioned that the project has employed over 50 people, with 60% of them being women. He also noted that the plant has grown by 50% between 2022 and 2023 and has saved the equivalent of planting 300 trees in terms of CO2 emissions in the third quarter of 2023.
The foundation emphasized the importance of following the hierarchy of waste management, which includes refusing unnecessary items, reducing consumption, and proper disposal and recycling. They called on Nigerians to join hands with the Turn Plastic Recycling Foundation in achieving the vision of zero waste on the streets while empowering local communities.
The event was held in collaboration with Alliance Francaise and was attended by representatives from governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private sector organizations like Total Energies. It served as a milestone in the foundation’s journey and a testament to their commitment to environmental sustainability and community empowerment through recycling innovations and capacity building.
