The "One Million Waste Bin Project" (1MB) has been launched in Accra to curb the indiscriminate litter of waste within communities by supplying one million litter bins to households and businesses across the country.
The initiative by Universal Plastic Products and Recycling (UPPR) Ghana Limited is in collaboration with Ecobank Ghana Limited and Environment Services Providers Association (ESPA).
The Ecobank waste collection Platform was also launched to simplify the payment for waste services provided through Mobile Cash Code *887*87#.
Mr Dan Sackey, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, said the bank’s commitment to the environment and its partnership in the Project was to help create a mass awareness about environmental Cleanliness among the populace, and encourage the use of waste bins across the country.
He said the proper segregation of waste was equally important to enable easy recycling of both organic and plastic waste generated.
He said the bank had committed over US$10 million to support the production of the waste bins.
"We are doing this in the hope that the bins distributed will go a long way to promote environmental best practices, good health and general wellbeing," he said.
"We look forward to this partnership to provide a variety of payment solutions to the numerous patrons of the waste management service providers and to propel the country towards the cash lite economy status, while keeping the environment clean," Mr Sackey added.
Dr Joseph Siaw Agyapong, President of ESPA, said the absence of waste bins at vantage points and households within the communities promoted indiscriminate littering and expressed the hope that the intervention through the 1MB Project would address the situation and keep the environment clean.
He said the initiative would enforce existing sanitation initiatives by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and would create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The waste bins produced in Ghana by UPPR are fitted with Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) tags to enable waste management companies closely monitor and effectively oversee how often the bins are emptied.The free waste bins can be accessed from all Metropolitan Municipal District Assemblies or Service Providers by paying a token for registration for collection as scheduled with customers service provider.One would be required to provide information, including name, contact number, House Number or digital address to complete registration.The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation officially launched the Project on behalf of the Minister, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
