GRIPE in Ksi; Aboabo renews commitment to plastics recycling

Residents of Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong municipality of the Ashanti region, on Saturday, renewed their commitment, support and efforts towards plastic recycling through a community buy-back programme.

The buy-back event, organized by the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE) saw the GRIPE team and volunteers collect tons of plastics from homes, shops, markets and drains in the area.

The aim of the buy-back was to create awareness on the proper disposal of waste, refuse segregation, recycling and the fact that post-consumer plastic waste is a resource.

Members of the community who joined the 3-hour exercise and later interacted with the team, promised to spread the “gospel” of plastics recycling which ultimately helps to improve sanitation.

Speaking to Ultimate FM’s Patricia Ama Bonsu, Sustainability and Responsibility Manager at Guinness Ghana Breweries, Felix Egyir Baidoo expressed delight at the massive turn-out and the education, residents had received.

“We believe that plastic is a resource and that post-consumer plastics is something we can make good use of. It shouldn’t end up in the environment; it should end up in the economy.”

“For us as GRIPE, we’re here today to create awareness and the sensitization among the community members that when they finish using their plastic products, they shouldn’t just mix them with the general waste”, he added.

Mr. Baidoo further explained: “They should segregate them and then there will be a buy-back centre here where they can sell off their plastics for something small. In doing this, we’re making sure that each and every one is playing their part. We at GRIPE believe that we can reach each community, one day at a time and make a difference with this buy-back.”

Research has proven that there is technology to recycle and process plastics for buildings, traffic cones, kitchenware, packing materials, play sets among others.

The Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE) is an industry-led coalition formed under the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) with a stake in the plastics sector to integrate sustainable waste management solutions, particularly around plastics.

GRIPE was founded in November 2017 by 8 multinational companies with varied products with a proven track record of involvement in sustainability actions concerning plastics in other countries.

The founding members are Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana; Dow Chemical West Africa Limited; Fan Milk Ghana Limited; Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited; Nestlé Ghana Limited; PZ Cussons Ghana Limited; Unilever Ghana and Voltic (GH) Limited. Additional members include Mohinani Group, KGM and Fine Pack.

Other volunteers on the day were drawn from youth groups Recycle Up Ghana, Young Africans for Opportunities all from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Premier Waste.

The monthly activity moreover seeks to support the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals; especially Goal 3(Good Health and Well-being), Goal 6(Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).