To tackle the indiscriminate handling/management and disposal of spent/waste oil, a major contaminants of its ecosystem, the Lagos State Government has said it will partner with Ecocycle Technology, to begin a recycling programme aimed at ensuring a cleaner environment.
The General Manager/CEO, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Adebola Rasheed Shabi, said the move was aimed at protecting the environment and the prevention of further contamination of the surface and underground water body in the state.
He said under the new system Lagosians whether corporate or individuals, would be encouraged to deposit their used oil at any of the specially designated collection centres across the state for onward disposal by the firm.
Shabi said since the proper management of used oil is a major environmental concern, in accordance with the laws setting up the agency, it would be an offence for anyone to discharge their spent fuel indiscriminately into storm drains or elsewhere in the state when the system finally rolls off.
He said: “The goal of this effort is to ensure an environmental quality that is consistent with the social and economic needs of the state, in order to protect human and animal health, welfare, property and quality of life.”
He further stated that the continuous monitoring and control of the disposal of solids, liquids and gaseous wastes generated by both government and private facilities has led LASEPA to setting some benchmarks that has ensured the safety of lives of residents.
He said approximately about two hundred million litres of used oil are dumped on the bare ground or into storm drains nationwide every year, with no one bothering about its adverse effect on the environment and human health.
“Improperly disposed oil can contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic animal and plant life, by depriving them of nutrients and oxygen. These waste oil contains heavy metals (i.e. Chromium, Lead, Zinc, Mercury, etc, that bio-magnify in the body tissues of the aquatic animals such as Cyclops, Planktons and other Benton) that are primary producers in the food chain,” he said. When these primary food chains are consumed by man, he explained, they become carcinogenic (cancer causing agents), in the human bodies.
With this partnership, LASEPA, Shabi said, is encouraging Lagosians to protect the state’s natural resources, surface and underground drinking water supplies by properly disposing used motor/engine oil at public collection centres that would be appropriately designated across the state.
The Managing Director of Ecocycle Technology Mr. Albert Adewunmi said the firm is determined to put an end to the contamination of the ecosystem as a result of waste oil through a beneficial recycling system that is meant to make the environment cleaner.
He listed some of the products that could be generated from the recycled waste oil to include fresh engine oil, diesel, asphalt residue, which could be mixed with bitumen, as well as soap.
“The recycling would also create work opportunities for hundreds of people directly and millions indirectly as waste collectors, and job creators,” Aderomi said.
He added that the recycling system comes with a waste buy back opportunity where the firm would be paying a token to anyone who patronises it by bringing their waste oil in exchange for cash.
