The Ecocykle Development Foundation, an NGO, has commissioned an eco-friendly toilet project, made with plastic bottles, in Nyanya-Gbayi Primary School, to curb open defecation.
The project was executed in collaboration with Lift Humanity Foundation, Step Up Green Climate Initiative and other environmental organisations.
It is located in the primary school located in New-Nyaya, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.
It will help to stem the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste in Karu and its environs.
According to Luaritta Boniface, Co-founder of Ecocykle Development Foundation, the project aims to address open defecation commonly practised in rural and suburban public schools.
She said it would promote effective waste management, good hygiene practices and a mainstream circular economy among young people in Nigeria.
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“When we were sensitising students on disposing of plastic bottles, we got the idea of using those plastic bottles to solve the issue of open defecation by using them to build toilets in the school.
“We started building the toilets to replace the dilapidated ones and engaged the students in the building process through the collection of pet bottles.
“We hope to replicate this project in other communities too, starting from our locality,” she said.
Mr Abiodun Aina, Founder of Step Up Green Climate Warriors Initiative, said that plastic pollution is parasitic to health and needs to be managed.
“Most of these plastics, we ingest them into our system and we keep having cancer ailment.
“So, instead of us throwing this plastic away, let’s use them to build structures such as eco-friendly toilets.
“When we solve issues of toilets, we have solved issues of open defecation and issues of contaminated water,” he said.
Also speaking, Nweze Emmanuel, Project Manager, Lift Humanity Foundation said wrongful disposal of plastic waste blocks drainages and causes erosion.
“This plastic waste has caused a lot of dangerous harm to the environment and to our health.
“So, we thought it wise to find a way to recycle these plastics instead of littering them.
“We believe that building with it is very good as it lasts and it will also bring about employment.
“Our foundation, as a humanitarian response to climate change, keyed into reducing plastic waste in the society,” Emmanuel said.
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Mr Atiku Gurku, Education Secretary, Karu LGA, appreciated the organisations for the project.
“This project will assist our environment, especially to curb open defecation that the Federal Government has been trying to tackle.
“These organisations have come to our aid to ensure that open defecation is no more.
“We are happy about this project as it will bring about a healthy society in our local government.
“We appeal to more stakeholders to engage in community development projects like this,” Gurku said.
The NGO use about 6500 pet bottles to construct the toilets.
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