As at the time of writing these article, global warming { Climate
Change} is a subject of global interest because of it’s consequences on
the environment and man. Global warming is simply the rise in the
temperature of the earth as a result of ozone layer depletion from the
actions of chemicals and gas like Chlorofluorocarbon {CFC’S}which allows
the entrance of sun rays and other dangerous elements into the
atmosphere therefore increasing the temperature of the earth. These have
great dangers to human’s and other living organism.Global warming as important as it is is not the subject matter of these write-up but the twin benefits of arresting deforestation of our economic trees, reducing the rate of ozone layer depletion, reduce burying of waste which causes underground water pollution and reducing the over-stress of waste in the environment by investing in a nylon and plastic bag recycling plant.
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.
In the economic aspect, recycling makes a nation or individual to recover money otherwise lost through pollution, burning and burying of waste material. Nylon and plastic waste recycling will complement the international concern for environment and our government’s campaign against deforestation and ozone layer depletion which leads to climate change. It will reduce environmental pollution caused by sachet water pack littering the street, bus-stop and blocking our drainage.
Waste nylon and plastic are recycled into nylon bags and jumbo polythene sheets and the market for it is national, growing and sustainable. They are used in packing of flour, sugar and salt by the multinationals, as trailer cover, and by plastic industries as raw material. In the agricultural sector, they are used as shelter and bagging of seedlings, animal feeds and fertilizers.
The raw material for recycling include pure water sachet, broken plastics, empty bottle water which can be sourced from pure water producing companies,eateries, hotels etc. Collection bags can be placed in the areas identified and by special arrangement with the owners/management, instruction given to people to drop their plastic waste. The product for supply are typically washed, treated and dried before they are used to produce nylon bags and polythene sheets.
With a population of close to 18 million people, waste management is a top priority for the Lagos State Government. The current administration is urging the private sector to get involved in all areas of waste management. Lagos produces 9 000 tones of waste per day. With a population density of 4 193 people per km2 and a projected population of 25.4 million by 2015, issues related to waste loom large in any development strategy - and present a wide range of possibilities for the investment community. Same opportunity exists in other state of the federation.
The plant and machinery would be sourced locally and it is 1 ton per day capacity plant for the processing of nylon and plastic waste and the ideal location would be in any part of the country where the raw material can be sourced and where plastic industries are located. Such plastic industries are the major consumer of recycled nylon and plastic material. A plot of land or warehouse would be ideal for the factory.
With 12 hours of constant electricity supply, the machine can produce 300 /400 KG of polythene bags. During the peak period which is usually between February and April, 1 KG of polythene sells for N200 hence 300 KG would yield N6000 per day added to the income from the use of the extruder alone, one can earn N21,000 in one day.
The proposed recycling plant would take an estimated sum of N 4,000,000 as shown below
Pre-Investment N 200,000
Accommodation/Factory Building N1, 500,000
Plant and Machinery N 1,000,000
Motor Vehicle N800, 000
Working Capital N500, 000
Total N4, 000,000
From preliminary study the return on investment is between 10% - 15%.
Same opportunity also exist in the processing of waste paper and other waste products in Nigeria.