2023年5月23日
African Digital Innovators Are Turning Plastic Waste into Value – But There Are Gaps
contributor:The Conversation
Plastic pollution is a growing global menace. Between 2010 and 2020, the global production of plasticsincreasedfrom 270 million tonnes (297 million US tons) to 367 million tonnes (405 million US tons). Every year,more than 12 million tonnes (13 million US tons) of plasticsend up in the world’s oceans, with severe consequences for marine life. When macroplastics degrade into microplastics, they easily contaminate the food chain and pose significant threats to human health viainhalation and ingestion.
By 2030, plastic waste isexpected to doubleto 165 million tonnes (182 million US tons) in African countries. Most of this will be in Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
A significant proportion ofthe plastic that ends up on African shoresis produced in developed, industrialized countries. By 2010, it was estimated that近440万吨(4.9 million US tons) of mismanaged plastic waste was in oceans and seas off the coast of Africa every year. A2022 estimatehas put this number at 17 million tonnes (18.7 million US tons).
Growing numbers of NGOs and innovators across the continent are responding to the challenge. They aredeveloping digital solutionsto reduce plastic waste generation, and promoting reuse and recyling of plastic products. Increasingly, African tech hubs are incorporating environmental sustainability in theirbusiness models.
Inour recent paper, we highlight ongoing efforts and innovations in what is called the plastic value chain. This comprises four phases, from the design of plastic products to manufacture, use, and end of life.
We found a number of initiatives that are transforming the plastic value chain into a smart, innovative and sustainable network. Most aim to improve plastic identification, collection, transport, sorting, processing and reuse. Some focus on the earlier phases: design and production of plastic products.
A whole value chain approach to the circular plastic economy is very important. While the majority of plastic waste management activities tend tofocus on the use and end-of-life phases, more attention needs to be given todesignand manufacture. This is where the problem of plastic waste begins.
Worldwide, attention is turning to designing simpler and standardised products that are easier to recyle and重用.
Innovators cracking the code
A Nigerian software company,Wecyclers, operates a rewards-for-recycling platform. It offers incentives to individuals and households in low-income communities to make money and capture value from recyclable plastic waste.
通过platform, waste collectors are connected to a fleet of locally assembled waste cargo vehicles. They use these to collect waste from subscribing households. These households are also rewarded according to the quantity of waste collected from them.
The collected waste is deposited in designated locations in the Lagos metropolis, to be collected in bulk by recyclers. This provides materials to manufacturers who turn it into new items like tissue paper, stuffing for bedding, plastic furniture, aluminium sheets and nylon bags.
The impact is significant on many levels. Firstly, by linking waste generating households with waste collectors in their neighbourhoods, the Wecycler model simplifies the logistics of collection and sorting at source, at practically no cost to households. Secondly, it enables households not only to mitigate the public health risks associated with plastic waste accumulation and mismanagement, but also to generate income. Finally, it elongates the end-of-life phase in the plastic value chain through recycling and potential reuse.
In Uganda,Yo Waste, a technology startup, has developed a mobile, cloud-based solution that connects waste generators to the nearest waste haulers in their community. Yo Waste improves the efficiency of scheduling and waste collection. It also helps waste collection companies measure the productivity of their trucks, and gives recyclers easier access to the plastic waste.
In Zambia,Recyclebotis connecting waste sellers to waste buyers via a crowdsourcing platform that aggregates waste by type and location. In effect, the plastic waste producers dispose of their waste for free, and waste buyers overcome the cost of separation, transfer and storage.
While these are promising innovations, the main challenge is scaling.This is slow on the continent. Startups in the recycling industry face additional challenges like inadequate funding and an under-developed plastic market that offers limited opportunities for growth and income generation.
A significant proportion of the funds accessed by startups is provided as grants from international and local organizations. Pure business investments are rare, and policy interventions are way behind the curve.
What can be done
To accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy, stakeholders from across a spectrum of organizations must work together. They include NGOs, cooperatives, think tanks and community groups. The current approach to tackle plastic waste on the continent remains scattered and inadequately coordinated. While efforts are being made to develop new ecosystems in many countries, key stakeholders are often missing.
特别是,非洲政府哈ve a key role to play. They need to commit more to strategic investment in infrastructure, incentives and support for startups. African countries also need policy interventions to grow the market for circular plastic products at national and continent-wide levels.
Inanother study, we argued that innovators must tailor their strategies to create innovations that are functional and easy to use. This will make it easier for ordinary consumers and the general public to accept them. In turn it will help change habits of consumption and expand the market for circular plastic products.
Digital innovators, as early adopters, are critical for driving changes in the way the plastics economy works across the continent. Their innovations are also leading to knowledge exchange and cross-sectoral collaborations.
However, they also face significant institutional challenges and infrastructural limitations that are slowing down the pace of progress. By working together and pooling resources, stakeholders can achieve an impact that is much greater than the sum of their individual initiatives and contributions towards a circular plastic economy in Africa.
About the Author
Seun Kolade and Muyiwa Oyinlola are Associate professors at De Montfort University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
