Odorgonno Senior High School (SHS) has emerged as the winner of the Plastic Challenge, taking home a gold medal, a plaque and GH¢8,000 at an awards ceremony held at the school in Accra last Friday.
Accra High School placed second and received a silver medal, a certificate and GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly Senior High School, which came third, received a bronze medal, a certificate and GH¢2,000.
Recovery
The competition formed part of the Schools Plastics Recovery Project, through which five SHSs recovered 1.5 tonnes of plastic waste and generated GH¢2,000 in revenue within the first month of the initiative.
The project, implemented by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR), in partnership with OmniBSIC Bank and Ocean Tribe, seeks to demonstrate how structured plastic recovery in schools can contribute to environmental protection while creating economic opportunities.
The Deputy Director of CSIR-IIR, Dr Richard Bayitse, said the initiative reflected the institute’s mandate to develop scientific knowledge and technologies that could be translated into practical solutions for national development.
He said plastic waste should not be viewed only as a disposal problem, but as a potential national resource which, when properly recovered and channelled into recycling, could reduce pollution, support local industries and create economic opportunities.
Dr Bayitse said CSIR-IIR was prepared to work with partners and other stakeholders to expand the initiative into a national plastic recovery network involving schools and communities, with the aim of standardising collection systems and strengthening links with recycling industries.
The Programme Director of Ocean Tribe, Saviour Agyei, said the initiative was also intended to raise awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution, including its contribution to blocked drains, flooding and threats to water and marine life.
She said the next phase would involve reaching more SHSs, communities and other interest groups, stressing that political leaders, schools, tertiary institutions, non-governmental organisations, businesses and the general public all had roles to play in addressing plastic pollution.
Sustainability
The Group Head of General Operations of OmniBSIC Bank, Dominic Donkoh, said sustainability should also involve financial responsibility and empower young people to make informed financial decisions.
Students of Odorgonno SHS cheering and jubilating after winning the award. Picture: ERNEST KODZI
He encouraged participating schools to sustain their plastic segregation, collection and sales activities, adding that proceeds from recovered plastics could support environmental activities and other worthwhile initiatives in the schools.
The ceremony also recognised five Outstanding Student Sustainability Club members.
St. John’s Grammar SHS was also recognised as the school with the highest recovered plastic waste and received five plastic recovery cages.
The other participating schools were the Armed Forces Senior High and Technical School and St. John’s Grammar Senior High School.
