Towards a circular economy: PlastiBuild CEO Amidu Mohammed advocates proper waste management to tackle climate change
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 2 weeks ago | 136 times
he Founder and CEO, PlastiBuild Creative Solutions Limited, Amidu Mohammed
In light of rising environmental issues globally, The Founder and CEO, PlastiBuild Creative Solutions Limited, Amidu Mohammed, has emphasized the urgent need for proper waste management as a critical step towards combating the challenge of climate change.
Speaking at the recent Western Nigeria Publica’s Instagram Live session, "YouTHrive," a monthly distinguished interview series, Mohammed underscored the role of a circular economy in reducing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable business practices.
He said that aside from serving as a veritable source of income, waste to wealth initiative discourages indiscriminate waste disposal and other harmful ways of handling waste such as burning, all of which are contributing to the challenges of climate change and the attendant unfavourable weather conditions.
PlastiBuild Creative Solutions Limited is a climate conscious social enterprise leveraging innovative upcycling technologies to bridge the gap in sustainable products by delivering affordable and eco-friendly consumer products that seamlessly combine style, quality and performance with sustainability at it's core through an online marketplace called ecomart dedicated to sustainable products and services.
The CEO highlighted that waste management in Nigeria faces significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, limited public awareness, and inefficient disposal methods. “Lagos, in particular, experiences the most severe waste issues, resulting in environmental degradation, pollution, and health hazards that obstruct Nigeria’s progress toward sustainability.”
According to a report, only about 20-30% of solid waste in Nigeria is collected and managed correctly. As a consequence, some parts of the country are uninhabitable and serious health hazards such as Malaria spread more easily.
The report also noted that around 70% of the waste generated is plastic waste. Another important waste component comes from electronic devices. The large volume of plastic waste in Nigeria presents circular economic business opportunities across the plastic value chain, which should be properly harnessed for job and wealth creation, the establishment of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, private sector investment including foreign direct investment FDI in addition to preventing/reducing plastic leakages to the environment.
He stressed the importance of responsible management in preserving the environment and promoting public health.
He said that one of the effective ways of achieving this was to embrace the waste-to-wealth project, through which he claimed, Nigerians are now making fortunes.
The expert said that aside from serving as a veritable source of income, waste to wealth initiative discourages indiscriminate waste disposal and other harmful ways of handling waste such as burning, all of which are contributing to the challenges of climate change and the attendant unfavourable weather conditions.
“Waste is actually valuable. At PlastiBuilds, we want people to start looking at all wastes in that direction, not just bottles alone but every packaging in the trash bin can be another material for reuse. If we pay attention to that, we can make a fortune out of waste,” Mohammed said.
“Nigerians, especially young people should note that recycling is the way to go and it is a lifestyle that we have to create which can give additional means of income, infact, the green economy is the way to go now,” he said.
He, however, urged stakeholders and government at all levels to work together proactively to tackle the challenges in waste management, adding that united effort is needed to create a sustainable future in Nigeria.
“In order to bring the required change in the society, we have to live in harmony, love and peace with each other. We have to start recycling and to do what all other creatures of the earth are doing, which is living in harmony with nature. We also have to renew our minds and start doing things right,” he said.
