A senior lecturer of the Northampton University, Department of Business and Law, Ebenezer Laryea PHD has called on policy makers in Ghana to reinforce education and awareness strategy on proper waste management to mitigate the alarming plastic waste pollution threatening food security and safety.
According to him, the country produces some 1.1million tones of plastics and we recycle only 5% which at the end of the day the the remaining 95% ends up in the see and other areas which we must do all we can to minimize the impact of plastics.
The lecturer added, the dangers that is characterized by plastics is underestimated and it very imperative policy makers implement measures that will ensure that, use of plastics is limited.
He said this when speaking at the launch of Fresh produce impact hub which seeks to solve the plastics problem in the country.
The £1 million grant project will be implemented by Blue Skies and UK retailer Waitrose and Partners in collaboration with the University of Northampton Centre for Sustainable Business Practices through industry Research and Development Hub.
The Project Manager of the Ghana Recycling Initiatives by Private Enterprises, Louisa Kaboba on her part averred that, currently some 14 companies are under the initiatives and the Organization is doing all it can to ensuring that as many plastics will be eliminated from our society.
She added, since 2017 the organization has been able to collect some 3000 tones of plastics which may have found it way into our oceans and other areas, which may have led to dangers in not so long a time to come.
The total funding is in the region of £1 million spread over three phases. This funding was awarded to Blue Skies Holdings Ltd by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as part of UK Aid and under its Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) program.
Having received this funding, Blue Skies then partnered with the University of Northampton and Waitrose to establish the Fresh Produce Impact Hub (FRESHPPACT). The University of Northampton’s role is to coordinate the research and manage all the projects undertaken within the Hub.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
