Ekiti ATWAP donates waste bins to govt

The Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Ekiti State chapter has donated plastic waste bins to the state government as part of measures to ensure safer, hygienic and conducive environment.

Donating the items to the state government through the commissioner in the Ministry of Environment, chairman of ATWAP in the state, Ademola Oyaleke said the donation is part of their social responsibility in keeping the state clean.

The presentation also marked the flag-off ceremony of the ATWAP community monthly cleaning exercising.

Oyaleke equally noted that the association has commenced engaging its members through sensitisation workshops on the need to produce hygenic water for people of the state.

He further revealed that ATWAP has set aside first Thursday of every month for the cleaning of their factories and other strategic places in the state to keep the state clean.

He said: “We called on the attention of our young graduates in Ekiti State to engage in the advantages of the initiative of the 3Rs of ‘Rescuing, Reducing and Recycling,  the empty plastic bottles and waste nylons as a livelihood. It will make our state tidy and clean as well.”

Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Environment, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe commended the association for the laudable project, saying their support will go a long way in safeguarding the lives of Ekiti people.

Aluko-Ajisafe callled on members of the association to always adhere strictly to the necessary guidelines in their various factories, while urging residents of the state to join hands in ensuring a healthy and enviable environment.

She assured the association that the ministry will utilise the waste bins effectively, adding that the state government has taken a step towards a cleaner environment through the ban of styrofoam for a greener and vibrant state.

Aluko-Ajisafe further said that styrofoam known as takeaway will soon be banned in the state to enhance greener and clean environment.

The commissioner said: “It is important to inform you that Ekiti State government has also procured dino bins to be distributed at designated areas within Ado-Ekiti metropolis which definitely address the problem of indiscriminate dumping of refuse.”

The national president of ATWAP, Clementina Ativie, represented by the South-West/Kwara Zonal chairman, Ademola Adeyeye said the programme is the third series in the zone.

He commended the state government for ensuring a cleaner environment while calling on the state government to look into the issue of recycling that will generate revenue for the state.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of (NAFDAC) and that of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) charged producers of sachet water in the state to imbibe the culture of quality in production of their procucts for the benefit of consumers.