Managing Plastic Waste Wisely

Log in or register to follow or vote for this project.

We aim at eradicating plastic waste from Nkozi (Uganda) and improving the aesthetic value of the environment. In the process, we will engage the community in such a way that will elevate their standard of living.

Standings & Awards

12 out of 591 in Africa
2 out of 272 in Environment
10 out of 935 in Design
8 out of 1066 in Blended
31 out of 4003 Overall

3

VOTES

PacMans

Create means of income for thousands in Nkozi (Uganda); ensure clean and healthy environment; then go beyond!

The youth in the Nkozi area (Uganda) have little or no choice but to work either as 'BodaBoda' (Motorbike) operators for the men, and fruit and vegetable venders for the women. Little do they know that they are sitting on treasure, plastics! Plastics are littered everywhere with no means of managing them. We plan to setup a task force to reveal the secrets of these seemingly useless treasures for the benefit of the people of Nkozi who have treated us like one of their own ever since we joined this peaceful and loving community.

Project description:
This project consists of 3 major stages that are necessary to achieve our goal and will be repeated in the same order to sustain the project over time. With time, we would like to build on the scope of the project.

Stage 1: Education
- create a forum for sensitization of how plastic wastes affect our environment and living conditions
- prominent people in this field may be invited to speak
- create alliance with other universities and share knowledge, exchange ideas
- join lobbying organisations dedicated to advancing environmental initiatives, and also work with other organisations and community based institutions to support the project

Stage 2: Manage to Benefit
- initiate the collection, cleaning, packing and weighing of the plastic waste
- the whole process will be done in readiness to sell to the recycling companies
- those who will be involved in the collection of plastics will be paid according to the weight of the plastic waste they present. The more plastic waste the more the payment
- sponsors will be able to brand the recycle bins that will be set up all around UMU and surrounding community as well as participate in local cleanup activities

Stage 3: Initiate reduce, reuse, recycle:

- train community to use plastic waste creatively as sources of income or means of self employment
- use of plastics as flower pots for aesthetic value
- use of plastics as fashion accessories (e.g. purses, travel bags)
- use of bottles for bottle irrigation for some plants around the school
- having creative competitions such as fashion shows
- inter-hall competitions

My team and I are convinced these stages, with proper management, will deliver the project goals.

Support Your Idea Optional (5 - 7 minutes for three uploads)

Supporting Document:

ManagePlasticWaste.pdf

Roadmap to Success Optional (1 - 3 minutes to upload)

Roadmap to Success:

roadmap_to_success.pdf

Sponsors, Investors, and Supporters

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation?

Remodeled method of recycling and reusing plastic waste that involves the community, earning them revenue. Our innovation aims at empowering Nkozi residents to embrace ways that elevate their standard of living, curb unemployment, provide clean and healthy environment, as well as enhance the aesthetic value of their surrounding, through a highly effective 3-stage project implementation plan that, through organized and committed work, guarantees success.

2. Who gains the most?

The people of Nkozi (Uganda) who will not only find means of earning extra income (or their only income) but also create for themselves a clean and healthy environment in the process. The wonderful people of Nkozi would be able to interact with each other during cleanup activities, 'clean' competitions, and plastic product sales, as they elevate themselves to better standard of living.

3. Who pays?

All collected and recyclable plastic wastes will be sold to Plawaste Recycling Company Ltd. whose owner is a supporter of our project and conveniently a part time lecturer at Uganda Martyrs University where we study from. We are also working on involving companies/organizations, such as the Nkozi local council, UNEP-Uganda, Plawaste Recycling Company, and banks to support our initiatives. In return, we will brand our recycling bins and any other item we use with their products/services.

4. What is your success?

12months:Successful awareness campaigns, changed attitudes about wastes & their impact on the env't, income for 100s of Nkozi residents from collected, processed, & sold plastic wastes, cleaner env't - 3years: Incredibly clean & healthy env't, means of income for 1000s of Nkozi residents from sales of artistic & creative hand-made plastic products; venture to other wastes; Go beyond Nkozi. - 5years:Facilitate access to loans for opening up shops where plastic products are sold.

5. How will you do it?

In accordance to our 3-stage implementation plan we will setup an effective team, and also involve the community, sponsors, and other stakeholders in planning and decision making processes. We will relentlessly search for funds. We plan to start small (put the word out, buy recycling bins, pay waste pickers, sell the plastic waste to Plawaste Ltd) then go big (secure a place to process collected plastic waste, purchase plastic waste processing machines, train people to create plastic products).