Lafarge Africa Plc, through its Geocycle team, and Lagos Recyclers Association (LAGRA) have stressed the need for constant cleanup exercises and proper management of the environment.

They spoke during the company’s cleanup exercises at the popular Tejuosho Market in Lagos and Olabisi Onabanjo Market in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State to commemorate the 2023 World Clean Up Day.

The event was attended by Lafarge Africa staff from Ikoyi, Opebi and Ewekoro along with representatives of Geocycle corporate customers including; Julius Berger, Bel Papyrus, A&P Foods, Pladis Global and NAMPAK BEVCAN, as well as several volunteers.

During the exercise, all kinds of waste, including plastic bottles, straws, cans, wrappers and food debris were collected. All the waste went into compostable bags ready for effective disposal and recycling. Additionally, two large metal bins and cleaning tools were donated to the two market associations for plastic bottles and recyclables’ disposal.

Addressing the team and volunteers at the Lagos event, Head Commercial Manager, Geocycle, Lafarge Africa Plc, Temitope Dosumu, commended participants for heeding the call to creating a cleaner environment.

She said: “The exercise was used as a means to sensitise people about the need to ensure a clean environment, clean up litter from the market and rid it of trash and mismanaged wastes.”

This, she said, is in line with the company’s vision for a world without waste and its commitment to doing business sustainably. “We all have the responsibility to keep our environment clean and Lafarge Africa remains committed to promoting a sustainable environment through innovative solutions to the problems of waste. This approach ensures recycling and recovery of resource value that is inherent in waste.”

Also speaking at the event, LAGRA President, Dr. Femi Idowu, stated that the best way to celebrate the day was to go into markets and street corners to sensitise the people on how to clean up their environment, pick up dirt and debris that litters and pollute the environment.

Idowu while stressing the inherent value in waste, noted: “What people see as trash, is actually money, suggesting that people should see the economic value in waste materials.”

IN a related development, over 100 volunteers also participated in the clean-up held at Olabisi Onabanjo Market in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. “The cleanup exercise demonstrates Lafarge Africa living true to its sustainability values.

“As a business, Lafarge Africa is committed to preserving and maintaining healthy, natural environments through the application of sustainable practices in its areas of operation,” said Biomass Sourcing Coordinator, Geocycle, Lafarge Africa Plc, Ibrahim Yaya.

“We are all environmental stewards and have a role to play in protecting the planet so that it can serve future generations. Let us all be responsible in our daily activities and dispose of litter the right way, not just on World Cleanup Day, but every day of the year,” he added.