The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has intensified efforts to promote environmental sustainability by reaching more than 1,200 Lagos residents and recovering over three metric tonnes of recyclable waste during activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day.
The initiative featured environmental education for more than 250 secondary school students, a community recycling awareness campaign, a product buyback programme involving over 400 households in Igando, Lagos, and the inauguration of a new recyclables collection centre in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and West Africa ENRG.
The activities attracted participation from key stakeholders, including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), GIZ, FBRA member companies and other environmental partners.
The campaign began on June 4 at Gbaja Boys High School, Surulere, where more than 250 students participated in interactive sessions on the dangers of poor waste management, the benefits of a circular economy, and the importance of responsible waste disposal and recycling.
The sessions, facilitated by NESREA with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and LAWMA, highlighted the role of young people in driving environmental sustainability. FBRA member companies also provided refreshments and gift items for participating students.
Speaking during the event, FBRA Executive Director, Agharese Onaghise, said educating young people was essential to building a generation committed to protecting the environment.
“When we reach young people in their schools, we are not just educating them about recycling. We are building the generation that will change the narrative on improper waste disposal by taking action,” he said.
On June 5, World Environment Day, the alliance took its campaign to Igando in Alimosho Local Government Area, where an awareness walk engaged more than 1,000 residents on proper waste disposal, the value of post-consumer packaging, and the importance of participating in organised recycling systems.
The exercise culminated in a product buyback programme attended by over 400 residents, who exchanged used packaging materials for food, beverages and household items supplied by FBRA member companies. The programme recovered more than three metric tonnes of recyclable waste, preventing the materials from ending up in the environment while demonstrating the practical benefits of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.
FBRA also commissioned a new recyclables collection centre developed in collaboration with UNIDO and managed by West Africa ENRG. The facility, one of three completed under the partnership, is expected to provide households and small businesses with a permanent collection point for recyclable materials, improving access to recycling services and supporting Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.
The alliance said the success of the World Environment Day activities underscored the importance of collaboration among producers, government agencies, recyclers and local communities in tackling packaging waste.
FBRA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility framework by working closely with NESREA, state environmental agencies, recyclers, collectors and communities to expand recycling infrastructure, improve waste recovery systems and increase producer participation across the country.
Comment here