Voltic launches 2nd phase of plastic waste project

Voltic Ghana Limited, in collaboration with Environment360, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has launched the second phase of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics project to manage and reduce the plastic menace in the country.

The launch was marked with the placement of more than 20 PET waste collection containers for plastic waste only, at vantage points in Accra.

Designed by Voltic Ghana Limited, the containers have been placed at shopping malls, gyms, selected gated communities and residential areas in the metropolis as a pilot project.

In addition to that, Voltic Ghana has donated a truck to Environment360 for the regular and consistent collection of plastic waste from the containers.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and agencies such as the Accra Plastic Waste Management Programme are partnering Voltic and Environment360 in the project.

Evolve project

Dubbed “Evolve” Project, the first phase which sought to collect plastic waste from households in the Accra metropolis for recycling, was launched in October last year.

Like the second phase, the first one started as a pilot project in neighbourhoods such as James Town and Cantonments in Accra.

Explaining the PET recycling project, the General Manager of Voltic Ghana Limited, Mr Philip Redman, said after the plastic waste had been collected, they would be processed and exported to be turned into finished products such as polyester, plastic tables and chairs, wires for  fencing and plastic signposts.  

He also said Voltic Ghana had provided funds to Environment360 to run educational campaigns on the need to keep the environment clean as well as how to use the waste bins.

Expansion

With the launch of the second phase, Mr Redman indicated that since both phases were carried out on pilot basis, the company would put in measures to scale the project up and extend it across the country.

“By the end of the second phase, we hope that the public would accept and adopt the concept of waste segregation, as well as the need to keep the environment clean,” he said.

As a socially responsible business organisation, Mr Redman said, Voltic Ghana was committed to managing and reducing the plastic menace which had become an albatross around the necks of all residents.  

The Executive Director of Environment360, Ms Cordie Aziz, called for collaboration from other companies and institutions, to address the environmental challenges facing the country.

“As an NGO, it is our wish that the concept will be implemented in all parts of the country, hence the need for all hands on deck,” she added.

The acting Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Mr Demedeme Naa, who launched the second phase on behalf of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, called on Voltic Ghana to scale its activities down to the local assemblies in order to make the concept easily adoptable.