Plastic revive, for life!
The importance of recycling plastic and using recycled plastic as a raw material are crucial steps in tackling the environmental impact of plastic waste.
Plastic waste poses an acute challenge in developing countries, causing far-reaching problems for the environment and society. These regions often lack adequate infrastructure for the disposal and recycling of plastic waste. As a result, large quantities of plastic end up in public spaces or on unused land, causing ecological damage. The uncontrolled disposal of plastic waste not only has a negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystems, but also jeopardises the health of the population. Combating plastic waste in developing countries therefore requires not only local waste management initiatives, but also international support in order to implement sustainable solutions and minimise the impact on people and the environment.
Plastic eater fish
Behind the name Plastic Eater Fish is a metal construction in the shape of a fish to encourage schoolchildren in the Thíes region and beyond to collect plastic waste. The plastic eater fish are made by a local metalworker. They will be placed in schools in the Thíes region and beyond by TOOLS FOR LIFE and our partners.
The first plastic eater fish is located in the schoolyard of the Ngollar secondary school. The pupils there are actively collecting plastic waste in the schoolyard and are even bringing in rubbish from the street and from home. Karou, a committed entrepreneur, collects the collected plastic and pays the school a fixed price per kilogramme. The collected plastic is used as a raw material for the production of recyclate, which in turn is used to produce hoses for drip irrigation of fields.
At the Ngollar secondary school, the plastic fish is emptied every 2-3 weeks. The collected waste weighs around 75 kilograms and is purchased from the entrepreneur for 50 CEFA (approx. 7.5 cents) per kilogram and can be processed into approx. 400 metres of hose. The money raised goes directly to the school. The headmaster plans to use the money raised to build a football goal.
The schools visit the Karou company to learn more about the processing of the plastic. This cycle shows how local initiatives and educational institutions such as the secondary school in the village of Ngollar can work together to reduce plastic waste and create sustainable solutions for reusing the material.
Conclusion
Recycling and the use of recycled plastic are crucial in the fight against the environmental impact of plastic waste. Plastic waste threatens nature, endangers wildlife and causes long-term damage. Especially in developing countries, recycling infrastructures are often lacking, leading to ecological damage and health risks. Our measures include the use of ‘plastic-eating fish’ in schools, which motivate pupils to collect rubbish. The collected plastic waste is collected by a contractor who pays the school for it. The collected plastic is used as a raw material for recyclate, which in turn is used in irrigation hoses. At the Ngollar secondary school, success is evident: pupils actively collect rubbish, the proceeds from the sale benefit the school and the headmaster is planning to build a football goal. The interaction shows that local initiatives and committed entrepreneurs can work together to reduce the amount of plastic waste and support sustainable solutions.
Background
The reuse of plastic through recycling, upcycling and downcycling contributes to climate protection in various ways. This includes saving raw materials, especially crude oil, by reducing the need for new materials. Recycling also enables energy savings, as recycled plastic is generally processed using less energy than the production of new plastic from crude oil. Avoiding the incineration of plastic waste or sending it to landfill helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Upcycling and downcycling promote the circular economy by extending the life of plastic products and supporting the idea of efficient resource utilisation. Overall, these measures help to reduce the ecological footprint of plastic and promote the sustainable use of resources, which has a positive impact on climate protection.