Plastic pollution has been a pressing issue in the Tema Newtown coastal community. With beaches and waterways clogged with plastic waste, the community is facing environmental degradation and health hazards due to the increasing amount of waste. That’s when Environment360 introduced the idea of plastic credits—a revolutionary concept aimed at tackling plastic pollution while providing economic opportunities to its waste picker.
Environment360 educates rural and urban community members on the importance of plastic waste management and trains them in effective collection and sorting techniques. With new knowledge and tools, these waste pickers collect plastic waste from their communities and nearby areas.
Through the plastic credit system, they sell collected plastic waste to Environment360, which sells plastic credits to businesses looking to offset their plastic usage. This means a stable income and a sustainable livelihood for these waste pickers.
The entire Tema Newtown has benefited from the plastic credit initiative. Beaches are cleaner, reducing the risk of health issues related to plastic pollution. The initiative helps reduce the amount of plastic entering oceans and harming marine life. The community has become more aware of the importance of recycling and proper waste management, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. The cleaner environment has also boosted local tourism, bringing additional economic benefits to the community. Environment360 just launched an additional plastic purchasing centre in Kumasi Asafo for the same purpose.
The impact extends beyond the urban section to the rural areas. Environment360 has extended this initiative to Dodowa a rural area where the organisation buys plastic waste from waste pickers, helping to remove plastic waste from the environment and ensuring it is recycled.
While the plastic credit system has brought significant improvements, it’s not without challenges. Ensuring consistent plastic collection and finding reliable markets for recycled plastic can be difficult. However, Environment360 continues to support the cooperative with training and resources, and partnerships with local and global corporations to provide a steady demand for plastic credits.
Environment360 has turned struggling livelihoods into a thriving one. This is a testament to the power of innovative solutions like plastic credits. By turning waste into wealth, plastic credits address the environmental crisis and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities. Environment360 is living proof that with the right support and initiatives, we can make a tangible difference in both people’s lives and the health of our planet.
Environment360 calls to action companies, governments, and individuals to support and invest in plastic credit systems. Together, we can create a cleaner, more sustainable world.
