Omo Powder Laundry Detergent has launched a plastic recycling educational campaign themed, ‘Dirt For Good’, across 30 schools to inspire a more responsible citizenry on sustainability practices.

According to a statement by the company on Thursday, the campaign was launched to engage and educate children on plastic recycling through its campaign, particularly on the holistic approach towards reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and creating better communities.

“Dirt for Good is a three-week programme focused on making children and youths a part of the solution towards addressing plastic waste and littering by sensitising and encouraging the collection and recycling of plastic waste, and proper waste disposal practices with thirty schools to be engaged through this initiative across Lagos,” it said.

The Brand Manager, OMO, Chinonyerem Opara, while speaking at an event in Karis School, a private educational institution in Magodo Phase 2, emphasised the need to take urgent action on sustainability and climate change.
Opara added that Nigerian children were the change-makers of this generation that could impact the future of their environment.

He said, “Global studies have consistently shown the negative impacts of plastic waste on the environment; for example, it can cause intestinal damage when ingested by fish and turtles. These plastic bags, bottles, and other objects flow into canals and water reservoirs and end up partially or completely clogging them. With the huge surge, we are currently experiencing, addressing plastic waste and recycling is no longer a local issue, but a global concern for everyone.”

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer, Wecyclers, Yemisi Lawal, said the low level of recycling in Nigeria, which is less than 12 per cent, and inadequate waste collection was a huge threat to plastic pollution management.
Lawal, “An estimated 367m tonnes of plastic were produced in 2020 alone, about 12 tonnes (12,000kg) of plastic waste produced every second that year. If we are to find a solution to waste pollution, it begins by influencing change across all communities, even with students.”

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