dust, rice husk and grandaunt shell
As we all know plastic waste is a big problem in Sierra Leone with meters high landfills in our communities full of waste plastic that usually clogs the drainage system, causing severe flooding during rains. An innovative and economically viable initiative has been developed in Bo to turn plastic and kitchen waste into a thriving business creating jobs and wealth for many entrepreneurs.
The waste to wealth entrepreneurs in Bo, Sierra Leone are building useful items like bricks for pavement of houses and roads, bio charcoal, stoves, pots and other useful household items.
According to the Chair of Enterprise Waste to Wealth and also owner of Sobawan Waste Recycling Center in Bo, Alfred Muana, since he started recycling waste to useful items he has been able to create jobs and also earning a substantial amount to take good care of his family.
He said his waste recycling centre collects kitchen and household waste from Klin Bo Youths who usually collects waste from homes for a small fee.
He said the waste is collected and sorted out in various categories for recycling which they use to manufacture products from waste materials from households and have become a thriving business for some entrepreneurs in Bo by making use of every waste material and turning them into useful items.
The waste to wealth entrepreneurs are making different kinds of products for the market ranging from handbags made out of plastic sachets, bio charcoal briquetting, pots made out of aluminum, slippers made out of tyres, and sieves and graters made out of tin.
The Bo City Council with funds from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) is closely working with a German Non-Governmental Organization Welthungerhilfe (WHH) to reduce waste in the Township.
Harrison Kwach, Head of Project Waste Management for Cities said Welthungerhilfe (WHH), is working with the Bo City Council for sustainable waste management with the objective to ensure that Bo City develops and implements a sustainable Waste Management Plan (WMP) that would improve city-wide solid waste management services through private sector and Community Base Organizations involvement through the development of public private partnership and the creation of livelihood opportunities by improving the value chain for waste-derived products. He said due to the successful implementation of the project in Bo they are rolling it out to Kenema and Makeni City Council for effective and sustainable waste management in the three cities pioneered by the German NGO Welthungerhilfe with joint funding from UK Aid.
The project has also sponsored private individuals in the production of plastic tiles for pavement of compounds and roads with the aim of reducing plastic waste within the Township of Bo.
Alfred Muana a recycler has seen growth in his business since the Waste to Wealth Entrepreneurs was launched in Bo four years ago. He said 12,000 aluminum soft drink cans are consumed in Bo Town daily and 70% of the cans are energy drinks which they in turn use to manufacture pots, logos and house gate designs. “We make 30 pots daily out of waste can drinks.”
He added that they also recycle waste papers, carpentry saw dust, rice husk and groundnut shell to make environmentally friendly bio charcoal that do not emit hazardous flames.
He said the bio charcoal produces less smoke and can also be used in doors with energy saving regulator.
“Our products are bought by private individuals, construction companies, NGO’s and traders from across the country especially Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Freetown, we sell wholesale and retail to our customers our products and good and affordable,” Muana said.
He said he has created jobs for sixteen youths and the centre is also training more youths amongst them are disabled youths who are eager to learn to eke a living out recycling.
Lucinda Katta, Coordinator and Manager of Yawei Development Association, collects waste plastic from the Klin Bo youths who collect piles of rubbish from households to make school bags of different colours and sizes, bracelets, chains sandals, hats and other fashionable items.
“I get my materials locally from waste and dump sites to make many useful items, ” She said, adding that the products are of quality standards and they are affordable in the market when compared to imported bags.
She said the bags are waterproof, durable and handy for use from water plastic sachets to make his bags, which according to him will help to reduce the piles of plastic waste usually on the streets of Bo. Katta also said she now spends 80% of her time in collecting waste and making bags than designing cloths for customers.
She also disclosed that the project has helped him procure an industrial sewing machine and other equipment’s to do his work as many traders in Bo and from Freetown also buy my products to resell so that they too can make a profit.
Charles T Boi also uses kitchen leftovers to make organic compost for gardeners and farmers within Bo and its environs, which has enabled most farmers to increase crop yield and productivity.
Currently the Waste Management Project in Bo has selected, trained and supported many entrepreneurs to make use of waste materials, by turning them into useful items for income generation and also keeping the city clean.
SB/22/11/17
By Saidu Bah
Thursday November 23, 2017.