GHANA – The Korle-Klottey municipality in the Greater Accra Region has inaugurated a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combatting the escalating challenge of plastic waste in the nation.
Named the ‘Valorisation of Waste Plastics for Fuel Production (VALOPLASTIQUES)’ project, this endeavor seeks to confront the plastic waste predicament by transforming it into high-value fuels and chemicals applicable to households, outboard motors, and small engines.
This initiative revolves around implementing pyrolysis technology for plastic waste recycling, fostering a circular economy for green plastics, and creating vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities for unemployed youth.
The pilot scheme in the Osu fishing community aims to serve as a tangible model, showcasing the integration of waste plastic valorization into daily life.
VALOPLASTIQUES seeks to make a substantial contribution to Ghana’s green plastics circular economy, combating the menace of single-use plastic waste and marine plastic litter.
This initiative comes in response to the pressing issue of environmental pollution arising from the production and disposal of single-use plastic products such as sachets, bottles, and polybags.
Notably, these plastics endure for several centuries, leading to diverse environmental repercussions, including the entrapment and asphyxiation of marine organisms and associated socio-economic and public health implications.
Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, the Director-Institute of Applied Science and Technology and Principal Investigator of the VALOPLASTIQUE Project, highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste infiltrate oceans annually, contributing to a global crisis.
Approximately 9.5 percent of Ghana’s annual plastic waste generation undergoes recycling, with the remaining portion disposed of in landfills, seas, land, or incinerated.
Recognizing the gravity of the issue, he underscored the need for comprehensive understanding and implementation of sustainable plastic waste management and valorization systems.
Professor Dodoo-Arhin acknowledged the rising energy demand, primarily petroleum-fuel-based, attributed to the expanding industrial and population sectors.
He proposed that recycling and converting the ever-growing plastic waste into energy could provide an alternative energy resource, mitigating the impact of increasing crude oil prices globally.
The Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership, established by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), underscores the government’s commitment to facilitating the transition to a circular economy for plastics.
The VALOPLASTIQUE Project is a collaborative initiative involving the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the University of Ghana’s Institute of Applied Science and Technology, the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly, KNUST, and the Member of Parliament for Korle-Klottey, signifies a confluence of environmental sustainability, economic development, and skill enhancement.
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