The European Union (EU) has announced its collaboration with the federal government of Nigeria to address environmental waste in the country. This initiative comes as the EU joins the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders globally to mark the International Zero Waste Day in Nigeria.
This year marks the first time that the International Zero Waste Day is being observed following its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly last December. To commemorate the event, an event was held in Abuja with the theme “Beat Waste.”
During the event, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, emphasized the importance of reducing waste. He highlighted that this year’s theme, “Beat Waste,” underscores the priority to prevent waste generation.
Vergos pointed out the significant challenge of waste management globally, with humanity generating between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. Despite this, global waste management services are inadequately equipped to handle such volumes, with 2.7 billion people lacking access to solid waste collection and only around 60 percent of municipal solid waste being managed in controlled facilities.
The International Zero Waste Day aims to draw attention to the importance of bolstering waste management efforts worldwide and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. Through collaboration and concerted efforts, the EU and the Nigerian government seek to address environmental waste and foster a cleaner, healthier environment for all.
