The African Marine Waste Network conference “Towards Zero Plastic to the Seas of Africa” took place in Gqeberha, South Africa.
It was attended by experts from the plastics industry and renowned academics from the environmental field, in order to draw up tangible action plans for effective green waste management in Africa.
Given that Africa’s current recycling rate is only 4%, there is an urgent need to find uniquely African answers to waste management needs and the creation of a sustainable future.
Following the conference, a good practice guide is being prepared which is bringing together the collaborative efforts and experience of all delegates. The event organisers hope that the guide will become a valuable resource for any African working in this field, regardless of their position in the plastics value chain, to better manage their plastic waste.
Plastic is the most discarded type of waste and is not biodegradable. It accumulates in landfills, spreads through the air, mixes with drinking water, fills the ocean, further harming people who make a living from fishing or agriculture.
