By Abbas Nazil
Eyes on the Environment Initiative (EEI), in partnership with Nature News, SusLab, Green Foundation, Eco Media Central and Youth Green Hub, has mobilised 42 volunteers for a community cleanup exercise at the Audu Bako Zoological Garden in Kano State to mark World Cleanup Day 2026.
The exercise, held on Sunday, September 20, under the theme, “Strive for 5: From Clean Plates to Clean Streets,” lasted one hour and 50 minutes and resulted in the collection of approximately 15 bags of waste from designated areas of the zoological garden.
The participants included 14 female volunteers and two teenagers, who worked together from about 8:15 a.m. to remove waste and improve the cleanliness of the facility.
The waste collected consisted largely of plastic bottles, pure-water sachets, straws, plastic spoons, lollipop sticks, takeaway packs, plastic cups and other single-use plastic materials.
EEI said the exercise demonstrated the importance of collective community action in addressing environmental pollution, while stressing that environmental protection should not be left solely to governments and organisations.
The initiative also used the occasion to call for stronger policies to tackle plastic pollution at its source, arguing that annual cleanup exercises should complement, rather than replace, effective waste-management systems.
The organisation urged the Kano State Government to strengthen measures promoting producer responsibility, waste reduction, reuse, recycling and circular economy practices.
It specifically called for consideration of an Extended Producer Responsibility framework that would require companies involved in the production, importation, distribution and sale of plastic packaging to assume greater responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.
Under such a framework, producers and other obligated businesses could support or finance Producer Responsibility Organisations responsible for the collection, recovery, sorting, recycling and environmentally sound management of packaging waste.
EEI said such an approach would be consistent with the Polluter Pays Principle by ensuring that those whose products contribute to waste pollution bear an appropriate share of the cost of managing the resulting waste.
It also called for clearly defined responsibilities for manufacturers, importers, brand owners, distributors and retailers regarding the plastic packaging they introduce into the market, including its recovery and responsible management after use.
The organisation further suggested measures to encourage consumers to reduce their dependence on single-use plastics, including additional charges on disposable plastic shopping bags and incentives for consumers who use reusable alternatives.
It said any revenue generated through such measures should be transparently managed and channelled towards recycling and waste-recovery infrastructure, community waste-management programmes, municipal cleanup operations, plastic-waste collection and sorting systems, environmental education, local recycling enterprises, and climate and community resilience initiatives.
EEI said the quantity and type of waste collected during the exercise underscored the need to look beyond cleaning up discarded materials and address the systems responsible for generating plastic waste.
According to the organisation, greater attention should be given to how products are designed and packaged, who is responsible for managing them after use and how materials can be recovered and reused instead of becoming environmental pollution.
Speaking with NatureNews during the cleanup exercise, Aisha Jibril Abdulaziz appreciated the organisers for providing the opportunity to contribute to the environmental initiative, saying she looked forward to participating in future cleanup activities.
“We thank the organisers for the opportunity. I personally enjoyed it and they did a great job. I look forward to the next one and many more,” she said.
Also speaking with NatureNews, Abu Rasaki, a 200-level Meteorology student at Bayero University, Kano, said the exercise provided an opportunity for participants to take responsibility for their environment.
“Today’s exercise was more than just cleaning the zoo; it was about taking responsibility for our environment. Seeing people come together to make Kano Zoo cleaner and more attractive was encouraging,” he said.
Rasaki said he believed a cleaner Kano could be achieved when everyone played their part, adding that participating in the World Cleanup Day activity would remain a memorable experience because of the enthusiasm and willingness demonstrated by the volunteers.
In a separate conversation with NatureNews, Habibu Alhassan said the activity made him realise that keeping the environment clean should not be limited to a single day.
Alhassan said World Cleanup Day should serve as a reminder for residents to continue taking responsibility for their surroundings throughout the year and encourage others to do the same.
“Real change comes from the small actions we take consistently,” he said.
EEI reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities, government institutions, businesses, civil society organisations, young people and other stakeholders to promote practical solutions towards a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment.
The organisation said the cleanup exercise may have ended, but efforts to tackle plastic pollution and improve environmental management must continue beyond the annual World Cleanup Day.
It called on residents and other stakeholders to sustain the spirit of the exercise through responsible waste disposal, waste reduction, recycling and continued participation in community environmental initiatives.
