TURN Plastic Recycling Foundation

The TURN Plastic Recycling Foundation emerged from a CSR collaboration between the United Nations (UNITAR), TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria (TEPNG), and NNPC, embodying the mission of "Turning Waste into Value" and nurturing the local ecosystem. Our foundation aims to serve as a pivotal force in fulfilling your institution's sustainability objectives. At the heart of our initiative is a state-of-the-art recycling facility in Nigeria's Rivers State, designed to revolutionize the informal and often exploitative plastic recycling industry. Our comprehensive in-house process encompasses recycling and the collection of post-industrial residue (PIR) from businesses, alongside the direct acquisition of post-consumer residue (PCR) from waste pickers and collectors, who represent some of the community's most marginalized individuals. With a yearly recycling capacity of 1,000 tons, the plant supports over 40 direct jobs and generates upwards of 80 indirect employment opportunities, with women constituting over 60% of the workforce. We strongly emphasize youth employment, with the average employee age below 30. Since its inception in February 2022, TURN Plastic Recycling has made significant strides, including: - Boosting waste collection by more than 120% - Enhancing production by over 150% - Training over five independent entrepreneurs - Expanding our team to 50 employees, up from 20 at the start - Increasing female employee representation from 40% to over 50% - Conducting more than six community and environmental awareness campaigns - Gaining recognition from dignitaries such as Mrs. Emmanuelle Blatmann, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, among others from NLNG, Rivers State University, and the National Environment Society (NES). Our project's success stems from a dedication to improving human capacity and forging key community and organizational partnerships. We recently initiated the "Train Up A Child Program" for youth sensitization, as part of our commitment to the youths.