By Bushrah Adeshina, Ibadan
The Oyo State Government on Tuesday, sealed a facility engaging in the recycling of waste tyres, to produce Pyrolysis oil, Carbon Black and Steel Wire as byproducts due to the environmental pollution caused by their activities.
The facility, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited, Olopomeji, along Ife road, Ibadan, in Egbeda Local Government, which has been in existence since 2016, has been discovered to have grossly embarked on unhealthy practices, which contravained the Extant Environmental Regulations of the State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resource, Architect Abdulmojeed Olawale Mogbonjubola, explained that the move is in the Government’s efforts at ensuring conformity and adherence by companies, industrial firms, and corporate bodies, to acceptable worldwide, and state Environmental Laws.
He said that during several routine monitoring to the company, by Ministry Officials, it was discovered that the pyrolysis process had led to unhealthy emissions, with Flora sighted within and outside of the facility, and stained with Carbon black, which consequently is hazardous to human health.
The Honourable Commissioner noted that aside from the facility being stained with the Carbon Black, the company had no evidence of engagement with solid waste Contractor, while also the workers are exposed to high risk, as there was no provisions for personal protective equipment PPE, nor evidence of health scheme for staffs in all sections of production.
There was no potable water, and air quality measured as at the time of visits, was beyond the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) limits.
Architect Mogbonjubola emphasised that, earlier, the Ministry had instructed the facility management to engage the services of needed experts, to put every recommendation and mitigation measures given to it, by the Ministry in place, especially, the engagement of services of a certified safety officer, and do proper housekeeping.
According to the Honourable Commissioner, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited had earlier been culpable and sanctioned with a fine of One Million, and Five Hundred Thousand Naira only, to be paid to Government coffers, which it declined.
Architect Abdulmojeed Olawale Mogbonjubola, however, expressed his displeasure over the Non-compliance disposition of some facility owners, industries, companies and corporate organisations to existing extant rules and regulations. He emphasised that the present administration would not in any way compromise standards, nor tolerate violators of Environmental Health laws of the State.