The University of Ghana lnstitute of Applied Sciences and Technology (IAST) has held a workshop on plastic waste management under the theme, ‘Strengthening research and innovation capacities in sustainable plastic waste recycling’.
The workshop, supported by the PRIMUS Project, was dedicated to researching new plastic recycling technologies. Its focus was on creating technically and safety compliant recycled materials suitable for manufacturing high-value products.
The workshop aimed to make plastic collection and recycling economically viable while also benefiting the environment.
Several graduate and undergraduate students delivered presentations on recycling waste products. Among these projects, some focused on repurposing worn-out car tires into new ones.
Addressing the gathering, the IAST director, Mr. David Dodoo-Arhin emphasized the critical need to prioritize plastic waste recycling due to the prolonged decomposition period of plastic waste, while underscoring the havoc it poses the environment.
“The production and disposal of waste single-use plastic products (e.g., sachets, bottles, and polybags) contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Single-use plastic waste is the major constituent of industrial and municipal waste in the cities after food and paper.”
“Because most plastic take several hundreds of years to break down when disposed, they present varying degrees of environmental impacts including trapping and choking marine organisms and associated socio-economic and public health impacts. A total of about 8 million tons of plastic waste leaks into the ocean each year.”
He also stressed the significance of prioritizing the ‘Quadruplex innovation helix model’ to tackle the issue within a circular economy. This model involves coordination among the university, industry, governance, public, and environmental sectors.
“In finding sustainable solutions to this menace within the circular economy framework, the ‘Quadruplex innovation helix model’ which deals with University-Industry-Government-Public-Environment interactions within a knowledge economy is very critical.”
Prof. Doodo also highlighted the initiatives carried out by the IAST to promote the adoption of technology in addressing academic and industrial challenges. Additionally, he extended an invitation to all stakeholders to participate in its annual Industry-Academia Interaction Series and Exhibition (IAISE) program.
“University of Ghana’s Institute of Applied Science and Technology, since its inception in 2012, has served as a platform for the transfer of knowledge, technology, and innovation development in collaboration with internal and external partners to harness the relationship between industry and academia, as well as taking innovative interventions that would promote the application of technology to solve academic and industrial challenges.”
“The institute leverages its annual flagship programme, Industry-Academia Interaction Series and Exhibition (IAISE) to facilitate engagements between industry and academia, to help promote research that is relevant to industrial and national interests, and in finding solutions to local, regional, and global challenges. This year’s Interaction Series will be held at the University of Ghana from 16th – 17th May 2024 under the theme ‘Sustainable Energy Transitions and Climate Change: The Role of Partnerships’. We invite all stakeholders to join us!”
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Story by: Abdul Razak Wahab | univers.ug.edu.gh
