Nestlé Ghana, a member of the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE), has supported plastic collection drive in the country by providing 15 tricycles, 1,500 waste picking tools and 1,220 nose masks to the Pure Water Waste Collectors Association in a brief event held at the courtyard of the Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation.
Last year, Nestlé signed a partnership agreement with the Association and donated 5 tricycles under the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). Since inception of the partnership, a total of 384 tons of plastic waste has been collected. The additional 15 tricycles is to further support members of the Association to help transport plastic from communities to recycling points.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, Philomena Tan said, “the fight against plastic pollution is an everyday affair and we can only win through consistency and given the right enablers to the right people. We are pleased to see that our input is yielding results from 2019 and we look forward to supporting the association to collect more plastics in communities for recycling”. She emphasized Nestlé’s global ambition to have all of its packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025 along-side its 2030 ambition to have zero environmental impact in its operations. She thanked MESTI for supporting the course.
While working with external partners, Nestlé Ghana has also eliminated all single use plastics in its offices, provided bins for segregation, and making employees ambassadors of proper waste management in its offices and in their homes. Nestlé Employees are empowered to bring plastic waste from home to the office for collection and recycling.
Elvis Oppong, President of the Pure Water Waste Collectors Association once again shared the group’s gratitude and their commitment to continue collecting and recycling more plastic waste.
Professor Frimpong Boateng, Minister for Environment Science Technology and Innovation reiterated the Ministry’s long-standing partnership with Nestlé Ghana on several fronts including on the Ghana Plastic Action Partnership platform. He urged the Association to use the tricycles for the purpose for which it is intended.
The chairman of the Association on behalf of members expressed their appreciation to Nestlé and the Ministry for their support and pledged their commitment to take good care of the tricycles as they do their work.