The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in partnership with eight companies who are the founding members of Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE) is set to launch bricks generated from plastic waste in September 2018.
This forms part of measures to address the growing unemployment situation in the country with the provision of jobs through scalable recycling solutions.
In addition, the move seeks to support government’s plastic waste management agenda.
The activity is also expected to enable contractors purchase bricks at a relatively cheaper price compared to what is already available on the market.
In an interview with Citi Business News, the CEO of the AGI, Seth Twum Akwaboah called for more private sector players to join the initiative, adding that the bricks when introduced, will be used to build places of convenience in some selected communities.
“We have engaged the consultant who is going to work with the CSIR , our own government institution, to develop the necessary research to develop the bricks which are going to be used to build toilet facilities and it is all funded by the group of companies that constitute GRIPE and we are doing it as a pilot as it succeeds, we will replicate it in other communities”.
Mr Akwaboa called on other private sector players to join the initiative and also purchase the bricks to ensure the sustainability of its production.
“We also want to the private sector to come in, to pick it as a business and work with it and with that I’m sure as we have a lot more companies working with such a product and using the plastic waste, as more materials for the bricks, we will as industry be contributing towards cleaning the environment”.
“Our principal objective is to clean the environment and then our second objective is to ensure that we create business and opportunities for our people and then the third is to help our communities with various facilities including toilet facilities”.
Since the launch of GRIPE in November 2017, it has engaged with government in tackling plastic waste in Ghana and supporting efforts to find alternative solutions to the issue of plastic management.
About GRIPE
GRIPE is an industry-led initiative under the auspices of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and currently has Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Dow Chemical West Africa Limited, Fan Milk Ghana Limited, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited, Nestlé Ghana, PZ Cussons Ghana Limited, Unilever Ghana and Voltic (GH) Limited, as founding members.
The coalition, among others, seeks to integrate sustainable waste management solutions, advocate improved waste management practices, contribute to increased collection and recycling rates countrywide, and provide employment opportunities through scalable recycling solutions.
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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana