Plastic Recycling Industries Uganda Limited (PRI), a project of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Uganda, has signed a partnership agreement with three community-based plastic collection, management, and recycling businesses, namely Yo-Waste, Ecoplastile, and Asante Waste Management, as part of its commitment to improving plastic waste management in the nation.
In accordance with the recently agreed cooperation, the three businesses will work with CCBA to establish additional collection sites in the neighborhood and provide PRI with collected plastic.
Samuel Kangave urged the people to alter their attitudes about the use of plastic and the management of the disposal process while speaking at the MoU signing.
Showing off the new, recyclable Sprite clear container is Kirunda Magoola, director of public affairs and communication at CCBA.
Although the misuse of plastics is an increasing threat, they are ingrained in our daily lives. When it comes to how we use plastic, at the individual, home, and even commercial levels, we need to reevaluate our behavior. The government and private sector alone cannot handle this issue. All of us have a role to play, Samuel said.
In order to refocus objectives, rethink strategies, and shift mindsets toward seeing plastic as a valuable resource and business if managed effectively, he said, “we are continually searching for possibilities to engage with the public and other private sector stakeholders.”
Asante Waste Management was established in 2013 to manage and decrease waste while recovering valuable materials and lowering carbon footprint, according to Rodney Makula, founder and CEO.
At the MOU signing today at Plastic Recycling Industries was Rodney Makula, founder and CEO of Asante Waste Management.
“We are pleased to share the same ideals as a well-known, dependable organization like Coca-Cola. We pledge to enforce and stress this program in the community as a condition of this collaboration and to fight for a change in thinking, the man stated.
By collaborating with at least 1,050 unpaid plastic waste collectors, including women and youth from our communities, we will be able to increase our ability to recycle plastic from 30 to roughly 150 metric tonnes per month. Through our cooperation with PRI, we take on the role of one of the off-takers, eating the plastic that PRI is unwilling to accept and using it to produce roofing tiles. It’s a win-win cooperation because we also provide PRI with PET bottles, according to Frank Kamugyisha, founder and CEO of Eoplastile.
A digital startup called Yo-Waste Limited assists in connecting retail customers at home and businesses with reputable waste removal and recyclers. Five undergraduate computer science students from Makerere University founded the business in 2019 to carry out their research projects in the neighborhood.
At the MOU signing today at Plastic Recycling Industries was Rogers Kibule, Marketing Manager for Yo-Waste Limited.
According to Kirunda Magoola, Public Affairs & Communication Director at CCBA, Uganda has continued to make impressive progress in collecting at least 78 percent of the plastic produced as part of the “World without Waste” initiative. By 2030, the initiative aims to collect and recycle one bottle or can for each one sold, with recycled materials making up 50% of the total.
“At the heart of what we do are sustainability and advocating for inclusivity. Our mission to “Refresh the world” motivates us every day. Make a difference by conducting business sustainably and fostering the development of a circular economy. We accept our civic responsibilities and collaborate with our people—employees, partners, suppliers, and the community—to discover solutions that benefit everyone while revitalizing our neighborhood. We encourage diversity and are pleased to see that many women and young people are gaining from the grassroots plastic recycling network, he added.
Following today’s MOU signing at Plastic Recycling Industries, all parties take a group photo. Partners include PRI representatives, Yo-waste, Ecoplastile, Asante waste management, and KCCA.
Despite the obstacles set by COVID-19, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa made headway in 2021 with its waste collection and recycling operations, earning a 58 percent recycling rate for FY2021. The packaging is more than 95% recyclable, exceeding the global goal of 100% recycling by 2025 set by the “World without Waste” campaign.
