As the world marked World Cleanup Day, Ace Recycles emerged as a pivotal force, transforming a local cleanup exercise into a practical demonstration of the circular economy and its benefits for the community of Ughelli.
The event, organized in collaboration with CODAF, ACERD and NEDi, saw all collected plastic waste diverted from the streets and transported to the ACE Recycles Centre.
This strategic partnership underscored a critical message: cleaning the environment and creating economic value are two sides of the same coin.
Grace Chukwufumanya Ndobu, founder of Ace Recycles Enterprise, used the platform to engage directly with residents, educating them on the tangible benefits of proper waste segregation and recycling.
She began by expressing her profound gratitude for the crucial support from the local government. “We are especially thankful to the Ughelli North Local Government Chairman, Honourable Jaro Egbo, whose provision of logistics and resources was instrumental in bringing this event to fruition,” Ndobu stated. “We are eager to sustain this collaboration for the lasting benefit of our environment.”
Ndobu passionately highlighted recycling as a profitable and growing industry. “A clean environment is not just a moral duty; it is a foundation for societal well-being and a source of income,” she said.
“When you collect and separate plastics, cans, or paper from your regular food waste, you’re not just keeping your environment clean—you’re also earning something in return.” She demystified the process, encouraging households to start from their homes by simply sorting waste and partnering with local recyclers like ACE.
“Even if all you make from it is enough to buy mobile data, it’s still something gained. That’s the beauty of recycling—it pays you while saving the environment.”
The cleanup exercise, which targeted streets, major roads, and the bustling Otovwodo Market, served as a large-scale collection drive for ACE Recycles.
The company is now poised to conduct a thorough brand audit on the collected plastic waste.
The results of this audit, expected to be published next week, will identify the major corporate brands responsible for the most plastic pollution in the Ughelli area, providing crucial data for advocacy and corporate accountability.
The initiative received strong endorsements from government and community leaders. Ikpibako Victory, Head of the Environment Department in Ughelli North Local Government Area, expressed deep appreciation for ACE Recycles role.
“The collaboration with CODAF and ACE Recycles was truly amazing. It has reinforced our public awareness campaigns, reminding people that hygiene is closely tied to godliness and, as ACE has shown, to economic opportunity,” Victory remarked.
Other speakers at the event, including Benin Evuarherhe Richard of CODAF and Nowho Fred of the African Center for Environmental and Rural Development (ACERD), echoed the need for stricter government laws and a daily commitment to cleanliness.
Their calls for policy change provided a vital backdrop to ACE Recycles on-the-ground, practical solution, positioning the enterprise as a key actor in turning advocacy into actionable, profitable environmentalism.
The event demonstrated that the path to a cleaner Ughelli and Delta State is not only through government regulation and citizen awareness but also through the innovative, sustainable business models championed by enterprises like ACE Recycles.
