“The circular economy of plastics in Uganda will be driven by women. This is one of the conclusions of the report “Gender Technical Assessment of Opportunities to improve Implementation of Plastics and Waste Management in a Ugandan Municipality”, presented on June 29th, 2021 by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Climate Investment Fund (CIF). This was during a webinar on the plastic recycling market in Africa.
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According to the study, 80% of plastic waste collectors in Uganda are women. Unfortunately, these women are often stymied in processing the waste due to lack of funding. Allcot, who conducted the study in the Ugandan capital Kampala, advocates the creation of a fund to finance women’s plastic waste recycling initiatives. Allcot believes this will encourage households to use recyclable waste as a source of income, provide formal employment opportunities for women currently involved in waste collection and promote a cleaner, plastic-free environment.
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According to the Ugandan authorities, the eastern country produces 1,500 tonnes of plastic waste every day, of which only 500 tonnes is properly managed. New funding would allow Ugandan women to turn plastic waste into granules that are reused as raw material in the manufacture of equipment such as chairs, containers and crates for storing beer and milk bottles. Initiatives to reduce environmental pollution by plastic waste in Uganda.
Inès Magoum