PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: The TURN Plastic Foundation, a non-profit organization, has provided training to students of Bloombreed High School in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, on the process of converting waste into valuable resources through plastic bottle recycling. During the event, Mrs. Ihuoma Njemanze, the project manager from the United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR), emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability on Monday.
At the seminar, the NGO focused on the significance of transforming waste into value and taught the SS1 students of Bloombreed High School how to recycle plastic bottles to create valuable resources. Mrs. Ihuoma Njemanze mentioned that the Foundation, in collaboration with its supporters, showcased video presentations that highlighted the origins and environmental impact of plastics. These efforts aligned with their mission to promote sustainable waste management, segregation, sorting, and recycling from an early age. The activities were organized as part of the NGO’s observance of World Environment Day this year.
Mrs. Njemanze stated that during the celebration, the Foundation launched an ‘Environmental Protection Club’ at the school. This initiative was designed to foster enthusiasm for recycling among students. The Foundation pledged to support the club by providing learning resources, art materials, and organizing excursions.
It is worth noting that the theme for World Environment Day 2023, under the campaign #Beat Plastic Pollution, is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution.” Mrs. Njemanze revealed that the TURN Plastic Foundation, which commissioned a 1000-tonnes capacity plant in February of the previous year, has the capability to save over 750 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This amount is equivalent to planting approximately 4,500 trees each year.
As part of its environmental awareness campaign focused on behavioral change, the TURN Plastic Foundation introduced an innovative initiative called “Train Up a Child” (TUC). This initiative demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to promoting a circular economy and involving young individuals in interactive recycling activities. It aims to combat plastic pollution and build a greener, more sustainable future. The ultimate objective is to raise environmental awareness among young Nigerians and instill a sense of responsibility for future generations, according to Mrs. Njemanze.
During the event, the students actively participated in various interactive sessions, including an art and craft activity where they learned creative ways to repurpose plastics. They also engaged in a quiz session to test their knowledge of plastics and plastic waste. Mrs. Njemanze added that the students had the opportunity to visit the TURN Plastics Recycling Plant in Elelenwo, which was an informative experience for them.
Based on the success of the inaugural event, Mrs. Njemanze expressed the foundation’s commitment to reaching out to more than 23 schools in Port Harcourt and establishing recycling hubs to maintain the positive momentum. Additionally, the Foundation plans to empower young individuals by providing cash rewards for depositing their plastic waste in designated recycling bins. Through these efforts, the TURN Plastic Foundation aims to educate both young people and consumers about the importance of plastics recycling and promote the purchase of products made with post-consumer recycled resins (PCR).
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Njemanze expressed gratitude to collaborators and partners, Mr. Leo Nwofa and Mrs. Uloma Airhienbuwa, for their invaluable contributions to the success of the event. She emphasized that TURN Plastic Foundation firmly believes in the role of individuals in achieving sustainability and encourages active public participation in environmental preservation. The foundation welcomes partnerships and collaborations from organizations and members of the public.
