Nestlé Nigeria and its partners have recovered 4,556 kilogrammes of waste during a nationwide community sensitisation and clean-up exercise held across 12 locations as part of activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day.
The campaign, which brought together 424 volunteers, community members and key stakeholders, focused on promoting environmental responsibility, proper waste management and collective action towards reducing pollution.
Data from the African Clean-Up Initiative (ACI) and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN) showed that the exercise resulted in the collection of 4,507.8kg of solid waste and 48.2kg of recyclable materials from Lagos, Abuja, Agbara, Jos, Kano, Enugu, Awka, Ota, Abaji, Sagamu, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.
In a statement signed by Corporate Affairs Manager, Toju Egbebi, Nestlé Nigeria said the recovered waste was directed through appropriate recycling and disposal channels to support cleaner communities and reduce waste leakage into the environment.
The initiative was driven by Nestlé Cares volunteers, the company’s employee volunteering programme, alongside volunteers from 15 organisations that joined the coalition ahead of World Environment Day.
The statement noted that the clean-up activities were designed not only to remove waste from public spaces but also to raise awareness among residents on the importance of responsible waste disposal and sustainable environmental practices.
The campaign was implemented through a multi-stakeholder partnership involving government agencies, regulators, industry groups, development organisations and recycling partners, ensuring alignment with national environmental sustainability goals.
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, Lead Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, said lasting environmental solutions require communities to play an active role.
“What encouraged us most this year was not only the volume of waste recovered, but the willingness of volunteers, partners and community members to work together towards a shared goal. Lasting environmental progress depends on that sense of collective ownership, and it is often through small actions taken together that meaningful change begins,” she said.
At the Abuja exercise, the Minister of Environment, represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Adeola Omotunde, highlighted the need for continuous collaboration among government, businesses and communities to address environmental challenges.
She said initiatives of this nature demonstrate how partnerships can support responsible environmental practices and create measurable impact.
Also speaking, the representative of the Country Manager of the National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), Mrs. Esther Chibueyin Fagbo, said tackling Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge requires sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
She added that the initiative reflects the importance of uniting communities, private sector organisations and partners to promote circular economy solutions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits.
