Desmond Kampoe, a student at C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), through innovative solution of transformating plastic waste to fuel and eco-friendly bricks, amid Ghana’s plastic waste crisis, has committed to finding a sustainable solution.
Kampoe’s innovation goes beyond just producing fuel, the end-products from the fuel-making process will be used to power generators, which will, in turn, help transform waste into eco-friendly bricks and pavement blocks.
Speaking to asempadawuro.com News Editor, E Adu Gyamfi Odopa, Kampoe acknowledged that while others have explored converting plastics into fuel, his approach is more environmentally friendly. “We will use an enclosed chamber to control the melting process with internal heating.
This means the plastics will be heated in the absence of oxygen, eliminating carbon emissions that would otherwise be released during burning,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about microplastics from the bricks breaking down and entering the environment, Kampoe assured that the plastics would be combined with naturally occurring materials to create a durable, safe, and sustainable product.
Recognition and Future Prospects
Kampoe’s groundbreaking idea recently earned him first place in a university competition at CKT-UTAS.
This contest was part of the selection process for the Enactus World Cup, an international social entrepreneurship competition organized by Enactus, a global non-profit based in Springfield, Missouri. Kampoe urged all citizens to contribute actively to environmental sustainability.
“We have to be conscious about taking care of the environment.” He also highlighted the economic opportunities that could arise if the project is scaled up. “This project will create jobs for people who will be molding the bricks. Those collecting plastic waste will also have employment opportunities. Additionally, these specialized bricks will require trained builders, creating even more jobs.”
Kampoe estimated that the eco-friendly bricks would be 20 per cent cheaper than conventional bricks on the Ghanaian market.
Statistics
Ghana generates approximately 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, yet only 9.5% is recycled, leaving a staggering 90.5% to pollute the environment.
This is according to the Performance Audit Report on the Disposal of Plastic Waste in Ghana by the Ghana Audit Service.
The report highlights the severe consequences of improper plastic waste disposal including littering, dumping in drains, and open burning which have exacerbated urban flooding, caused significant land and marine pollution, and posed serious health risks due to toxic emissions from burning plastics.
Despite government interventions such as the Plastic Waste Recycling Fund and the National Plastics Management Policy, Ghana continues to struggle with ineffective waste management and low public awareness.
The report recommends enhanced public education, improved recycling infrastructure, and stronger stakeholder collaboration to combat the growing plastic waste problem that threatens both the environment and public health.
Source: asempadawuro.com