UG Plastic Recycling Project Commemorates World Environment Day

University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project (UGPRP) in partnership with Voltic Ghana Limited and Coliba Ghana Limited has organised a community awareness and buy-back programme in Glefe, a suburb of Dansoman in the Greater Accra Region. The exercise which was in commemoration of the World Environment Day, celebrated annually on 5th June was also used to promote environmental conservation especially through plastic waste management.

Prof. Appeaning Addo, Director, Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies in his remarks indicated that the University of Ghana through the activities of the UGPRP is poised to play a leading role in addressing the menace associated with plastic waste in Ghana and globally.

Highlighting the activities of the UGPRP, Prof. Appeaning Addo noted that UGPRP was a student-led initiative under the Vice-Chancellor’s Green Team, with support from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) and the Environmental Services Unit of the University. He revealed that the team has set the pace in promoting waste segregation at source within the University community and is steadily making progress towards institutionalising waste segregation at source to serve as a model for the country. 

In a quest to promote the need for the efficient use and sustainable consumption of resources in the country and beyond, the Director revealed that the UGPRP was determined to roll-out additional initiatives like the Waste Recovery and Awareness Exercise. This he indicated could be achieved through the collaborative efforts of all the major stakeholders along the waste management value chain.

 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Francois Gazania, Managing Director, Voltic Ghana Limited, indicated that the company had a responsibility to make a positive impact and ensure that their actions inspire others to help generate solutions that leave our world better for generations to come. He revealed that the company in recent times has engaged various stakeholders in creating a sustainable ecosystem.

In outlining the tenets of Voltic, the Managing Director, stated that Voltic believes every package had value and life beyond its initial use and therefore had to be collected and recycled into either a new package or another beneficial use. He bemoaned the situation of plastic waste ending up in the oceans and waterways and also the indiscriminate littering of communities.



Prior to the programme, there was community engagement with opinion leaders as well as door-to-door sensitization on the uses of plastic waste, how it can be collected and the revenue that could be generated from plastic waste.  At the end of the exercise, Coliba Ghana Limited bought over 1000 kg of plastic waste which could have been dumped into the oceans, landfills or burnt.

 

The team from the UGPRP were Mr. Julius-Jayson Botchway, Team leader, UGPRP, staff and officials from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies and 35 volunteers. Also present was Mrs. Joyce Ahiadorme, Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Voltic Ghana Limited as well as some staff of the organisation.