Rite Foods partners RecyclePoints on 'Waste-Is-Naira' initiative

The programme allows residents to exchange used plastic bottles and beverage cans for cash, effectively converting waste into economic opportunities. With a projected annual recovery of over 750 tonnes of plastic waste, the initiative is poised to significantly reduce environmental pollution, improve circularity in packaging use, and stimulate grassroots economic activity.

Speaking at the launch, Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, described the initiative as a natural evolution of the company's sustainability journey and a deliberate move to embed EPR into its business model.

“This initiative goes beyond clean-up efforts. It reflects our responsibility as a producer to close the loop on our packaging materials. With 'Waste-Is-Naira', we are institutionalising a system where post-consumer waste is recovered, reintegrated into the value chain, and translated into tangible socio-economic benefits for Nigerians.”

He further noted that following years of impactful coastal clean-up campaigns under the Riteon the beach initiative, the company is now scaling its efforts inland through a more structured, incentive-based recycling framework that drives behavioral change at the community level.

Daniel Oderinde, Programme Manager at RecyclePoints, explained that participants are provided with designated 'Waste-Is-Naira' sack bags to encourage proper waste segregation at the source. Once filled, these materials are delivered to designated collection hubs, where they are weighed, logged, and digitally recorded. Payments are subsequently processed, ensuring transparency, traceability, and financial inclusion for participants.

Providing additional insight, Akin Disu, Founder of Popbeachclub and Rite Foods' partner on the Right On The Riteonthebeach project, emphasised the broader societal impact of the initiative, noting that it represents a paradigm shift in how waste is perceived and managed.

“What we call waste is simply value in the wrong place. When producers take responsibility, and systems are designed to connect people to opportunities, we unlock not just environmental benefits, but livelihoods. 'Waste-Is-Naira' is a powerful example of how EPR can work effectively at the grassroots.”

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Regulatory stakeholders also commended the initiative for aligning with environmental standards and strengthening public-private collaboration. Mrs Adedayo Adebayo, Director of Environmental Sustainability at LASEPA, highlighted the importance of compliance and structured frameworks in delivering long-term impact, while Mrs. Oguntola Omolara of LAWMA described the programme as a timely intervention that supports the state's waste management objectives.

On his part, Adeoye Babajide, Director, Waste Management, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Water Resources, stated that the laudable initiative aligns with the state government's drive in keeping the environment healthy and habitable, and also in preserving the natural water resources for human use.

Lending her voice to the initiative, Arese Onigise, Executive Secretary of FBRA, stated: “Initiatives like 'Waste-Is-Naira' exemplify how producers can move beyond compliance to actively implement Extended Producer Responsibility in a way that is both practical and impactful. By creating collection systems that incentivise consumers and integrate informal waste actors, Rite Foods is contributing significantly to the development of a circular economy for packaging in Nigeria. This is the kind of scalable model the industry needs to drive long-term environmental sustainability.”

She further called for continued collaboration among key stakeholders to ensure the long-term success and scalability of such initiatives.

From an operational standpoint, the initiative is designed as an inclusive, community-based system that integrates households, waste pickers, and aggregators into a formal recycling value chain.

Beyond environmental impact, the W.I.N initiative is expected to create jobs across the recycling value chain, empower informal waste collectors, and strengthen Nigeria's circular economy.

By embedding Extended Producer Responsibility into a scalable, community-focused model, Rite Foods is demonstrating how corporate leadership, when aligned with regulatory frameworks and local realities, can drive measurable environmental and socio-economic impact.