Recycling Plastic Waste in Readiness for Foreign Exchange
Plastic pollution is a major problem facing not only the Kenyan environment but the world at large.
Despite the ban on plastic bags in 2017, there has been no improvement in plastic pollution as the presence of other plastic materials still prevails.
In order to reduce this pollution, initiatives have been put up in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Kenya Manufacturing Authorities to control plastic pollution by recycling which can lead to foreign exchange of the products.
According to Kenya PET Recycling Company (PETCO) people who collect plastics and recycle them should be helped by being financed and provided with the necessary equipment so as to make the recycling process easier and swift without any interference.
“We have provided dustbins in all our office branches where people can easily dump plastic waste, “said Gathoni Methu, the project officer of PETCO.
Wendy Boit, the Senior Officer of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations has said that in order to fully control the pollution, the country needs to come up with a better measure of turning plastic into plastic credits, which is a business approach other than just recycling.
“Recycling and exchanging plastic credits in readiness for foreign exchange will encourage business, lead to the betterment of infrastructure, increase waste reduction strategies, and get other packaging alternatives,” said Boit.
She further said that not only will Kenya benefit from foreign exchange but also in creating green jobs for people, promoting innovations, and controlling climate change by reducing carbon emissions from plastics.
Boit added that by focusing on plastic waste reduction Kenya could become a global leader in combating plastic pollution.
By Confident Malengwe and Hilda Ngetich
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