APM Terminals Apapa has collaborated with a waste management startup, Garbage In Value Out, to unveil a zero-carbon recycling hub in a bid to reduce plastic pollution and foster environmental sustainability in Apapa, Lagos.
The company recently shared that the initiative is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment to its host communities.
Speaking via a press statement, the Terminal Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Steen Knudsen, said that the Zero Carbon Recycling Hub, located in Apapa, will make waste recycling seamless and more accessible to communities, while also fostering long-term sustainable practices.
“In line with our global goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, APMT is increasing its investments in environmental sustainability. As a key player in the transportation and logistics industry, we operate heavy equipment and vessels that contribute to carbon emissions, and we recognise our responsibility to reduce that footprint,” he said.
Highlighting previous sustainability efforts like the recycling of used tyres into usable items, he disclosed that the new collaboration with GIVO will target plastic waste and enable its transformation into reusable materials.
He noted that the target is to usher in a more circular economy, where waste will not just be collected in Nigeria, but the value-adding processes will also be done in the country.
“We would welcome a more circular economy, where not only the waste is collected in Nigeria but also where the value-adding processes are done in the country, further decreasing CO₂ emissions from transportation and creating jobs for Nigerians,” Steen said.
Reacting, the Chief Executive Officer of GIVO, Victor Boyle-Komolafe, said that the recycling hub is solar-powered and services a 25-kilometre radius.
According to him, the facility presently recycles approximately 300 kilogrammes of waste per day, totalling about 90 metric tonnes yearly.
“This project not only protects the environment but also drives economic empowerment. We offer N300 per kilogram of waste collected and have created over 50 indirect jobs and 15 direct jobs,” he added.
