MESTI commences piloting of circular economy for plastic products

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) is set to pilot the implementation of a circular economy for the plastic sector under the Circular Economy Framework for the Plastic Sector (CEF-PS) Project in Ghana.

The project comes with a financial commitment of $7,000,000, with a direct disbursement of $4,350,000 to 10 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for implementation.

It is anchored on three main objective: to strengthen the national capacity of Ghana to transition to a circular economy within a framework that addresses plastic leakage into the country’s oceans and waterways, facilitates sustainable plastics management through operationalizing the National Plastic Management Policy (NPMP) and National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP/GPAP); and ultimately end marine plastic pollution and reduces the unintentional emissions of POPs (u-POPs).

By the end of the project, approximately 13,000 tonnes of marine litter is expected to be avoided, at least 93,000 kilograms of plastic waste should be collected, and 50 inspections conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In terms of employment, the project is expected to create about 746 direct jobs and a little over 9,000 indirect jobs.

The beneficiary enterprises include Coliba Waste Management Services Limited, McKingtorch Africa, Nelplast Eco Ghana Ltd, Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant Limited (IRECOP)/Zoomlion, Maintenance Sustainability Africa, and three consortiums—Asase, Sesa, and City Waste Recycling—along with UPPR and Pure Home Water.

Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), during his remarks urged the SMEs to utilize the disbursed funds responsibly and effectively, emphasizing the importance of accountability.

“You should be conscious that I will monitor to see the money utilised. You need to use the money for the purpose for which it is intended, and I will take particular interest in the monitoring,” he said.

Delivering a speech on behalf of Ms. Muge Dolun, UNIDO Project Manager, Mr. Joseph Yeboah, Strategic Partnership and Engagement Lead, urged beneficiaries to execute the project efficiently to serve as a model for future circular economy initiatives.

The project funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by UNIDO and the Ministry of Environment as an executor, is a five-year duration project and forms part of the National Plastic Management Policy.

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