A Green Solution to Plastic Waste

Birth defects, cancer and decay of marine ecosystems are just few of the dangers plastic poses to human and environmental health. Most plastic waste is non-biodegradable and can be found in the land and the waters as a result of human activity. Many initiatives have been  started to reduce plastic and save the world from it's evil. Today, I share with you one of these visionary organisations: Ecobrixs.

Ecobrixs, is a non-governmental organization located in Masaka, Uganda that has dedicated its efforts to elimination of plastic waste by giving value to trash using its closed loop recycling system.

They make products like caps, tiles and fence posts using plastic collected from people in the local community as a raw material.

 The people collect plastic bottles, bags and sell it to Ecobrixs at a price per kilogram. This system has helped remove about 400 tonnes of plastic from the environment since it’s start four years ago.

In 2020, they launched a ‘Plastic for Education’ program in more than 5 schools in order to help parents, who were financially beaten by the pandemic afford their children’s education. In this program, they gather plastic which is exchanged with Ecobrixs for school fees.

Ecobrixs has further encouraged youth  involvement in environmental restoration through establishing eco clubs in schools and the community, in which youth share information  on environmental issues and their solutions, hence creating awareness and advocating for a younger generation of climate activists. 

They also organise eco-friendly  activities like  cleaning the community centers, cleaning lake Victoria, and planting of fruit trees  which help to restore environmental health.

Not only is Ecobrixs providing an eco-friendly solution to plastic waste in Uganda, it is also creating green sources of income for community members, therefore helping them to improve their living standards.

For some individuals, climate change is just a distant issue that cannot match up to  other life  challenges like medical insecurity, poor standards of living or unemployment that they face everyday. 

It is therefore our responsibility as environmentally aware individuals to support the creative  organisations that dedicate their innovations towards eco-friendly waste management, like Ecobrixs or to renewable energy and efficient use of water.

We can do this by being a part of them as employees,  purchasing their products or encouraging a friend to do so, such that our common goal of sustainability is achieved.

Since economic activity is necessary for social development, making it sustainable should be our priority so that we maximise adaptation and  mitigation efforts. This is the beauty of every green business.

Sources

https://www.ecobrixs.org/

https://ecologycenter.org/factsheets/adverse-health-effects-of-plastics/

Image source: Pixabay