(566f) Grassroots Innovation in Plastic Waste Management: Ishara's Model.
AIChE Annual Meeting
2024
2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Topical Conference: Waste Plastics
Analysis and Assessment for Solving the Plastic Waste Crisis
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 1:45pm to 2:00pm
Ishara is pioneering a grassroots initiative in Ghana to address the escalating plastic waste crisis through innovative technology and community engagement. Our mission is to create a closed-loop system that empowers local waste pickers, fosters sustainable recycling practices, and nurtures a culture of environmental responsibility.
At the heart of Ishara's approach is a mobile app designed to streamline the plastic waste collection process, making it more efficient and transparent. This app connects individual users and waste pickers, enabling them to easily schedule and track waste pickups. It also directly links to recycling companies, ensuring a consistent supply of segregated and cleaner recyclables.
Through our collaboration with the University of Ghana, we have initiated primary market research to understand and integrate local recycling habits, challenges, and opportunities into our model. Starting with such universities, we are on track to redirect over 25 tons of plastic waste daily, plastics that would have otherwise polluted our environment. Our initiative aims to mitigate environmental pollution and offer fair economic opportunities for waste pickers, often marginalized in the waste management ecosystem.
In presenting at AIChE, we seek to explore innovative solutions and collaborations to enhance our system's efficiency and impact. We believe that addressing the plastic waste crisis requires a multifaceted approach, combining technological innovation with community-based strategies to achieve sustainable change and economic empowerment.
At the heart of Ishara's approach is a mobile app designed to streamline the plastic waste collection process, making it more efficient and transparent. This app connects individual users and waste pickers, enabling them to easily schedule and track waste pickups. It also directly links to recycling companies, ensuring a consistent supply of segregated and cleaner recyclables.
Through our collaboration with the University of Ghana, we have initiated primary market research to understand and integrate local recycling habits, challenges, and opportunities into our model. Starting with such universities, we are on track to redirect over 25 tons of plastic waste daily, plastics that would have otherwise polluted our environment. Our initiative aims to mitigate environmental pollution and offer fair economic opportunities for waste pickers, often marginalized in the waste management ecosystem.
In presenting at AIChE, we seek to explore innovative solutions and collaborations to enhance our system's efficiency and impact. We believe that addressing the plastic waste crisis requires a multifaceted approach, combining technological innovation with community-based strategies to achieve sustainable change and economic empowerment.