TIG Post

Tag: plastic waste

  • Gov’t commits $7m to enhance plastic waste recycling sector

    Gov’t commits $7m to enhance plastic waste recycling sector

    The government has announced plans to allocate $7 million in grants to eight plastic recycling companies nationwide to help expand their operations.

    According to the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, the funding will assist companies such as Universal Plastic Products and Recycling Ghana (UPPR) Limited, under the Jospong Group of Companies, in strengthening their capacity for plastic waste collection, recycling, and reuse.

    As part of efforts to assess their readiness for the support, sector Minister Murtala Mohammed recently visited several recycling firms in Accra, stressing the need for greater investment in circular economy initiatives.

    “We are looking forward to expanding this grant assistance to more entities with the expertise to manage plastic waste. If we are only able to recycle 10%, what happens to the remaining 90%? They contribute to the environmental degradation and hazards we face,” he said.

    He added that a final decision would be reached following inspections of multiple facilities.

    Murtala Mohammed urged the beneficiary companies to generate employment opportunities once they receive the grants.

    On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Minister toured four plastic waste recycling facilities, including UPPR, Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant Limited (IRECOP), Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) Maternal Recovery Facility, and Nelplast Ghana Limited.

    This financial support is part of a government initiative designed to develop a circular economy framework for Ghana’s plastic industry.

  • Cape Coast takes action against plastic menace with inauguration of recycling plant

    Cape Coast takes action against plastic menace with inauguration of recycling plant

    The coastal city of Cape Coast in Ghana has taken a significant step in addressing the escalating issue of plastic waste with the inauguration of a waste to resource collection and preprocessing plant. 

    The facility, located at OLA Kojokrom, marks a pivotal moment in the city’s efforts to combat environmental pollution caused by plastic waste.

    Over the years, the proliferation of plastic usage, particularly by water bottling and sachet companies, coupled with the shift towards plastic packaging in malls and shops, has led to a surge in plastic waste generation. This unchecked disposal of plastics has had devastating effects on the environment, with plastics littering streets, clogging drainage systems, and polluting water bodies.

    The impact of plastic waste on Cape Coast’s coastal communities and fishermen has been particularly concerning, with nets often catching more plastics than fish, jeopardizing livelihoods and endangering aquatic life. Additionally, the release of microplastics into water bodies from plastic waste poses a significant threat to the environment and public health.

    Recognizing the urgent need to address the plastic waste menace, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) has taken proactive steps to tackle the issue. Environmental Officer Iddris Shani highlighted the assembly’s efforts to impose stiffer punishments for offenders and manage waste more efficiently. However, limited financial resources have hindered the establishment of a recycling plant and comprehensive waste management system.

    The inauguration of the recycling plant, spearheaded by Caritas with support from City Waste Recycling Limited, the German Development Cooperation, and an Austrian group, represents a ray of hope in Cape Coast’s battle against plastic pollution. The facility, which will be managed by Caritas, aims to collect and recycle plastic waste from schools and institutions, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of plastics and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

    The ceremony, attended by selected primary, junior high, and senior high school students, underscored the importance of youth involvement in environmental conservation efforts. Rev. Fr. Stephen Amoah-Gyasi emphasized the need for collective action to combat plastic waste and urged institutions to support the recycling plant’s operations by supplying waste plastics.

    The initiative received widespread support from dignitaries and community leaders, who pledged to sustain efforts to keep Cape Coast’s environment clean and healthy. Most Rev. Mathias Kobena Nketsiah emphasized the spiritual significance of the recycling plant, calling on individuals to fulfill their responsibility to nurture the environment.

    As Cape Coast takes strides towards a cleaner and greener future, the inauguration of the recycling plant represents a pivotal moment in the city’s journey towards sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Through concerted efforts and community engagement, Cape Coast aims to turn the tide against plastic pollution and create a healthier environment for future generations.

  • Startup in Kenya converts plastic waste into solar-powered freezers

    Startup in Kenya converts plastic waste into solar-powered freezers

    In Kenya, a company is exemplifying the adage, “one person’s waste is another person’s treasure,” by transforming plastic waste into valuable assets.

    On a February morning, a team of women gathers on a Mombasa beach to collect plastic waste, which will be repurposed to construct freezers.

    The collected waste is sold to Kuza Freezer, where workers process it into pellets before molding it into cold storage units.

    Each freezer is equipped with a battery that can be recharged using a solar panel.

    With just a two-hour charge, the freezers can operate for up to seven hours.

    “Kuza Freezer is a youth-led company based in Mombasa, Kenya. And we are focused on providing cold storage solutions to small-scale businesses in the fish value chain and enabling them to sustainably improve their income and reduce post-harvest losses,” says Purity Gakuo, CEO Kuza Freezer.

    Kuza Freezers, operational for three years, has distributed over 350 units to various customers, including fish traders, poultry and milk vendors, and ice vendors.

    Gakuo, a representative of the company, highlights the diverse range of products available, from static freezers for fishing boats to units suitable for installation at premises. Additionally, they offer a motorbike-mounted freezer with a 70-liter capacity, facilitating efficient fish delivery.

    The company provides complimentary installation and training to customers, along with fitting each unit with a tracking device for maintenance monitoring.

    Priced at Ksh 100,000 ($700), the freezers are available with installment payment options, proving to be a worthwhile investment for many.

    For customers like Abdalla Ali, adequate storage is critical. Ali emphasizes the challenges faced with storing fish, particularly during transportation, where ice depletion and hot weather can jeopardize the quality and result in losses.

    Nickson Otieno, CEO of a Nairobi-based sustainability consulting firm, underscores the significance of the product in addressing two major challenges in Kenya: pollution and hunger.

    “Number one is the issue of food security resulting from food losses.

    Food losses come about because we produce food which are perishable, but then we do not have enough infrastructure to deliver that food to the end consumers in time while it is fresh,” says Otieno.

    “Secondly, we have a lot of issues of waste and especially plastic waste, which is choking our environment. By them taking up this waste, recycling it, and using it to make the external body of the freezers, also addresses the challenge of this waste,” the CEO of Nikogreen concludes.

  • Companies that generate plastic wastes to be ‘charged’ as MESTI develops legal framework

    Companies that generate plastic wastes to be ‘charged’ as MESTI develops legal framework

    The Sector Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, has announced that it outfit is currently developing a legal framework to hold companies accountable for the plastic waste generated during the manufacturing and distribution of their products.

    This initiative aims to tackle the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.

    During a press conference in Accra, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie shared insights into the ministry’s plans to address the plastic pollution menace.

    He emphasized the importance of this mechanism to encourage responsible practices among companies.

    Furthermore, the Sector Minister highlighted that Parliament has already approved the national space policy, which is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the country’s socio-economic growth.

    “I am pleased to announce that the national space policy has been approved by cabinet and this policy serves as a framework for utilising space science and technology to drive our national development,” he stated.