Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in partnership with Sterling Bank Plc and PAKAM Technology, has launched Nigeria’s first digital recycling platform, Wastebank.
The initiative was aimed at revolutionising the recycling landscape in Nigeria, reducing waste to the barest minimum, and to re-enforce the war against the misuse of recyclable waste items.
Speaking at the launch of Wastebank, in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the partnership and introduction of the Wastebank app represents a significant step towards the collective effort to encourage responsible waste management practices in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said the purpose of technology was to solve problems, urging residents to imbibe the tenets of recycling, espoused by the 3R’s, by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste materials, stressing that the practice would help tackle the challenge of waste resurgence in the metropolis.
He added that the partnership was geared at promoting environmental consciousness as well as incentivising communities to actively participate in recycling initiatives for a healthier Lagos.
On incentivising waste, Director of Digital Business and Innovations, The Alternative Bank, Mohammed Yunusa, said the Wastebank app is a platform to encourage a cleaner society through digital waste depositing and to empower individuals, business owners and communities.
He acknowledged that the initiative goes beyond waste management as it was also targeted at reducing the indigent ratio by creating more job opportunities.
“Wastebank is not just an app; it is an ambitious initiative designed to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to profitably engage in recycling while safeguarding our planet’s future.
“The app offers a user-friendly interface that seamlessly connects users to a network of recycling resources, incentives, and an innovative approach to waste management, making a significant and measurable impact on our environment,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief EXecutive Officer (CEO), Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said the initiative was foregrounded on the principle of scarcity engendered by value.
According to him, the collaboration with LAWMA serves as a testament to their shared dedication in cultivating a sustainable ecosystem, propelling them towards a future where responsible waste management is a fundamental pillar of a thriving, environmentally conscious society.
“If you want something to be scarce, put a value on it. if we want our society to be clean, we need to put a price on it, so that waste becomes scarce,” he said.
He said the initiative will be extended to the other states in Nigeria, adding that they would embark on a road show to all Lagos Local Councils in November to create awareness.
