The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) is partnering with Ororo Waste Management Ltd to promote the recycling of used cooking oil for wealth creation, sustainable environment and public health safety.
As such, the Agency in collaboration with Ororo Waste Management Ltd on Tuesday organised a One-Day public sensitisation programme on sustainable management of used cooking oil with the Theme: “Turning Used Cooking Oil to Wealth: Prospects and Opportunities,”
The event, which was held at the Protea Hotels, Alausa, Ikeja, brought together people from different walks of life who shared knowledge on the new recycling initiative for healthy living and sustainable environmental growth.
Speaking at the event, LASEPA’s General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi emphasised the importance of proper waste oil management, calling for urgent action to tackle the environmental and public health risks associated with its improper disposal.
Dr. Ajayi highlighted Lagos State’s significant waste oil generation, with over 20 million residents producing an average of 6 to 10 kilograms of waste oil per person annually. Improper disposal of waste oil often leads to pollution of waterways, soil degradation, and infiltration into the informal diesel supply chain, with dire environmental and economic consequences.
The General Manager lamented the loss of biodiversity in Lagos’s waterways and the growing health risks from improper management of used cooking oil, including the formation of cancer-causing toxins.
He announced that the joint public sensitisation programme is the first step in a comprehensive initiative to recycle used cooking oil into valuable products like biodiesel and soap, noting that the initiative is in tandem with the State’s broader sustainability goals.
Ajayi stated that the programme, initially targeted high-volume generators such as restaurants, hotels, and commercial kitchens, with plans to include households in the near future.
“Participants will be encouraged to register and label their waste oil for collection at designated centres, including LASEPA’s 20 zonal offices. Incentives such as financial rewards and shopping vouchers will motivate public participation, while collection logistics will be managed in collaboration with private-sector partners like Ororo Waste Management Ltd” Ajayi stated.
LASEPA boss expressed optimism that the programme has the potential to grow faster and achieve rapid success like other recycling initiatives, such as plastic waste management.
The Corporate Affairs Consultant for Ororo Waste Management Ltd, Mrs. Kemi Areola, stressed the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable oil recycling, warning that improper disposal of used cooking oil contaminates water bodies and soil while reusing it excessively can hurt human health.
Mrs. Areola highlighted the potential to transform waste oil into products like biodiesel and cosmetics, creating financial benefits for individuals and businesses while supporting a circular economy.
The Managing Director of Food Concepts PLC, owners of Chicken Republic, Mr. Kofo Abunu, reinforced the importance of public education in promoting healthier and more sustainable practices.
He noted the health risks associated with reused cooking oil, particularly in informal settings, and commended LASEPA and Ororo Waste Management for their efforts in raising public awareness of it,
The event also featured presentations by experts on various aspects of used cooking oil management. Some of the topics that were delivered at the event included the environmental impact of improper disposal, best practices for handling waste oil and turning waste into profit.
Contributors included Mr. Bukie Oluyadi, Mr. Kazeem Olawuyi, Mr. Ayo Banjo, and former General Manager LASEPA, Engineer Ayodele Anthonio, alongside an international expert, Bernardo Oliveira.
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