The amount of waste from plastics is extremely detrimental to the environment and it seems to be increasing always. The interventions being put in place to minimize plastic waste especially from the higher authorities have been fruitless, that is if there is any at all.
But for Ghanaian start-ups, they are determined to put in whatever they can with the limited resources they have to curb the issue of plastic waste, an issue that is a worldwide problem. Ghanaian start-ups are turning plastic waste into useful fuels that can potentially be used for various purposes.
These young start-ups moved forward by young people are turning plastic waste into fuels like grease, diesel and petrol for household uses. The young geniuses hail from Banda Nkwanta in the Brong-Ahafo region, Ghana.
They work with limited resources, but their passion to contribute meaningfully to the environment saw them getting funding from UNDP Ghana to sustain their projects.
UNDP Ghana posted some pictures of the initiative on Facebook with the caption, " In this era of plastic menace, check out how individuals from Banda Nkwanta turn plastic waste into fuel like grease, diesel and petrol for use. GEFSGPGhana UNDP Ghana supported to begin the pilot stage of this initiative."
Turning plastic into fuels can prove to be very essential for Ghanaian communities when one takes into consideration the almost irreparable damage caused by plastic waste. These fuels are importantly a convenience for small-scale purposes like household uses. Recycling waste has not yet reached a full scale level, which makes these fuels a noble initiative.
Plastic-derived fuels have low sulphur content. This means that they are not are not as harmful to the environment than traditional fuels, since they are capable of producing a cleaner burning fuel than the traditional fuel. The majority of developing nations rely on sulphur-heavy diesel.
This smart idea can go a long way in alleviating the challenges posed by plastic waste in poorer communities.
On the overall, developing nations are bearing the brunt the the global menace of plastic waste.
Header image credit - UNDP Ghana on Facebook