Plastic Waste Collection Point for Takoradi

Takoradi July 08 -GNA- Mr Kwesi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister, on Friday launched the first plastic waste collection point in Sekondi-Takoradi and the region at Takoradi.

In an address, he thanked the Swiss Embassy in Ghana for sponsoring the collection point, which forms part of the National Plastic Waste Management programme.

Mr Blay said people should exploit the economic value of plastic waste by collecting and sending them to collection points for a fee. He said apart from serving as a buying and selling point to generate employment for the youth, if properly managed plastic waste could be recycled for use to nurse seedlings, raw materials for other products and for use as a foreign exchange earner.

He said the National Task Force on Plastic Waste has already launched a programme dubbed: "Operation chase the plastic waste" to publicise the project.

Mr. Blay said the programme will give every individual, community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, micro businesses, political and social groups and religious organisations the opportunity to be actively involved in the management of waste.

He called on district assemblies to take up the challenge by instituting measures that would help promote the collection of plastic waste.

Mr. Issah Nikabs, Executive Secretary of National Plastic Waste Management Task Force, said the Task Force has been able to establish 10 major plastic waste collection points in the country. He said the task Force also facilitated the recycling of plastic waste through support to recycling companies.

Mr Nikabs said there are currently five major plastic waste recycling and export companies operating in the country, adding, "More of such companies would spring up because of the rate at which petrol prices keep galloping on the world market".

Mr Nikabs said the setting up of plastic waste collection points falls in line with the strategic plan of the Task Force to commercialise plastic waste management.

He said in this vein, individuals and institutions could manage their plastic waste by making money from it and it is growing fast across the country.

Mr Nikabs called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take advantage of the benefits of plastic waste to reduce the financial burden of waste management on the government.

Mr George Zubler, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, said the Swiss Embassy also sponsored the Ho Plastic Waste Collection Point.

He said the reason the Embassy was supporting the launch of the collection point in Takoradi was because of the emphasis the project put on the sensitisation of the community, especially school children. Mr Zubler said the environmental attitudes facing the country are, to a large extent, to be attributed to bad attitudes and negative environmental practices by the people.

He said only sustained education and sensitisation on the need to keep the environment clean would yield results.

Mr Zubler called on the people, especially the youth to put the collection point to good use and to practice proper waste disposal methods, adding that solving the problem of plastic waste requires the collective effort of all.