LAGOS State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) on Wednesday launched LagosRecycle at its Ijora headquarters.
The initiative offers Lagosians the opportunity to exchange recyclable wastes for a promo.
The monthly raffle draw will see 570 people from the 57 local governments and local council development areas win N10,000 each.
It was in partnership with Heritage Bank and Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, praised the initiative.
He said it would sanitise the environment.
The commissioner hailed the partnership between LAWMA and the private sector.
He said it was time the state accelerated waste technology to cater to the mass refuse generated in Lagos daily.
“We have to think outside the box to the number of refuse going into the dumps. We can start this process with the organised estates before moving to Mushin, Oshodi, Somolu and others. This initiative, if well harnessed, will help us a great deal in sanitising our environment. It is a challenge to LAWMA to mobilise the populace to key into it,” he said.
Bello said the state was planning to shut down Olusosun dump and partner neighbouring Ogun State to create a landfill.
This, he said, was necessary due to shortage of land space in the state.
LAWMA Managing Director Ibrahim Odumbomi said the scheme would create over 6,000 jobs for youths to be known as ‘Aggregators.’
LagosRecycle, he noted, would drive the habit of recycling by Lagosians for a cleaner and greener city.
Explaining how the initiative will work, Odumbomi said: “As long as you live in Lagos, you stand a chance of winning cash and prizes every month by just separating your recyclables from your waste and schedule for a pick-up. Separate your recyclables (plastics, glass, metal cans and cardboard) and schedule a pick-up from your local recycling ‘Aggregator’.
“You will earn raffle tickets for every bag of recyclables you give the ‘Aggregator’. At the end of every month, you stand a chance to win local government, LCDA and state prizes. You will be notified by text message if you win.”
He said the agency was planning to have instant prizes for the collectors in future.
“This initiative is about saving the environment for the generation unborn because it takes 450 years for plastic waste to get destroyed. If we throw our recyclables in the dump, it doesn’t help our environment. Let’s act now to have a better future and secure environment,” he said.
Heritage Bank’s Regional Executive for Lagos and Southwest Dimiri Dike promised to assist LAWMA to achieve its goal.
He said winners don’t need to go to LAWMA offices to claim their prizes.
“We have introduced Lagos recycle cards for six million households. There will be no need for winners to go to LAWMA offices to redeem their prizes. The card does the magic. We look forward to this great journey,” Dike said.
The President, Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic, Vinod Kaurani, said Rotary was proud to be associated with LAWMA on the project.
He enjoined Lagosians to go back with the hope of seeing Lagos as a great city to live in.