Michigan-based Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics has launched the Project ReflexNG, a pilot program aiming to address plastic waste issues in Lagos, Nigeria. The project is part of Dow’s global objective to reduce, reuse or recycle 1 million tons of plastic by 2030. RecyclePoints, Omnik, and the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre also participate in the project.
The program will recycle water sachets and use them as new packaging. The goal includes removing 300 million sachets out of the environment or landfills while socializing more about sustainability to the community.
Water sachets help to provide a less expensive source of drinking water in Nigeria, where 19% of the population don’t have access to clean drinking water. However, their use has created bad waste disposal and more pollution. Waste pickers often ignore light water sachets because they are paid based on weight.
RecyclePoints will collect the sachets through kiosks, and then Omnik will process it into post-consumer recyclates (PCR). Dow and Omnik will determine the best use for the PCR. Meanwhile, the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre will teach small and medium waste businesses about the right methods to realize long-term sustainability.
