Plastic waste collectors appeal for assistance

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Members of the Plastic Waste Collectors Association of Ghana (PWCAG) on Thursday appealed to government and the business community for assistance to acquire a recycling plant to boost their work and generate employment. Mr Godwin Woasey, President of PWCAG who made the appeal at a training workshop for members in Accra explained that the plant could process plastic waste into granules to manufacture polythene bags, bowls, buckets and drinking cups.

He said the association had about 5,000 collectors in Accra and Tema and supplied about 50 tonnes of plastic waste daily to the four major recycling factories including Blow and Petro Plast. Mr Woasey pointed out that because their operations had not been streamlined, factories that purchase the plastic waste pay only 30 pesewas a kilogramme, while others offer only 70 per cent to collectors and keep the 30 per cent.

This, he said tend to discourage others from joining the business. Mr Ohene Mensah, a factory inspector at the Department of Factories Inspectorate of the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare (DFIMESW) said the use of plastic material was inevitable to ensure sustainable development.

He said recycling of plastic waste was environmentally friendly and an alternative source of material to natural resources. The day's workshop was organised by International Labour Organisation in collaboration with DFIMESW. It sought to sensitise plastic waste collectors on best health practices, occupational safety and health hazards, basic managerial skills, core labour standards and standard practices. 26 Nov. 09