Recycling is one sustainable solution to curbing plastic waste – Petroleum Expert

Engen Ghana Limited specialists in the supply of refined petroleum products and other petroleum downstream-related activities working in collaboration with Coliba Recycling Services a leading Ghanaian Plastic Waste Recycling Company, committed to environmental protection has launched a plastic waste recycling project.

Engen Ghana and Coliba Recycling jointly outdoor the project which strategically involves the installation of high-capacity, high-impact recycling bins at all of Engen Ghana’s 42 Filling Stations across the country.

The recycling bins at the Engen Ghana Filling Stations will serve as collection points so that people can easily and conveniently drop off their plastics and receive some form of incentive.

Mr. Brent Nartey, Engen Ghana Managing Director speaking at the launch of the Engen-Coliba Waste Recycling Project at Pokuase, near Accra said it was based on the company’s commitment to ensure continual improvement in Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality management and protection of the environment leveraging on technology.

He indicated that recycling is one sustainable solution to curbing plastic waste however, Ghana’s underdeveloped recycling sector coupled with the inability of the traditional waste collection services to provide sufficient recycling services due to financial constraints has been a major hurdle.

Mr. Nartey who is a petroleum expert also mentioned that it is against this backdrop that the collaborative efforts of Engen and Coliba are offering a solution to the growing problem of plastic waste pollution in the cities the event which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) established.

He said Engen Ghana consider the importance of plastics, as well as the challenges resulting from its misuse, cannot be overemphasized, adding that “we use plastics every day, and everywhere and dispose of them sometimes indiscriminately.

“As a result, we increasingly litter plastics waste around endangering the environment, polluting water bodies, clogging our drains, and when burnt, release toxic substances that create air pollution, harmful to humans and animals”.

Mr. Nartey encouraged all Ghanaians to be responsible in their waste disposal and be good corporate citizens to help manage and mitigate the growing nuisance of plastic pollution, especially in the cities.

Mr. Prince Kwame Agbata, Chief Executive Officer of Coliba Recycling Services, explained that the collaboration with Engen Ghana has given birth to the recycling project.

He said the project stemmed from the idea that plastic waste could be collected in a more cost-effective and easier way instead of going from house to house.

He said plastic does not really weigh much and so they are leveraging on the support of Engen Ghana.

He said the project is basically to bring recycling services closer to the people in the community and that is the motivation.

He added that the nature of the partnership is such that “Engen Ghana allows Coliba to use the stations as the collection points and also fund the development of the bins as well as provide fuel to ensure consistent collection of the plastics at the various points.

Coliba on the other hand will also be responsible for consistently picking up the plastics, ensuring that segregation is properly done and that the plastics are recycled using the right standards.

The programme was attended by Madam Sally Biney, the Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Greater Accra West Region; Nii Otto Kwame V, Chief of Pokuase; and Mr. Ebow Botwe, Representative from the Plastic Manufacturers Association among others.