20 Years of waste collection: A woman’s passion to end plastic waste nuisance

A 76-year-old plastic waste collector has embarked on an ambitious dream to make Ghana’s capital, Accra, clean and free of plastic waste.

Ms Esther Vanderpuiye, popularly called Grandma, marks the 20th anniversary of her sanitation project this year, soldiering on to bring into reality the President’s wish to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa.

With a fine line-up of activities to celebrate the anniversary of her waste collection business, she has elevated her pastime to the level of an organised refined economic project.

Activities

That line-up of activities include donations to the Weija Leprosarium and the Bawjiase Orphange, all of which would be crowned with an awards ceremony to honour volunteers in the waste collection business.

Ms Vanderpuiye, a caterer by profession, announced her intentions when she was presented with Veronica buckets by the management of Qualiplast, a plastic manufacturing company, in Accra.

She expressed appreciation to all those who had assisted her in the waste collection business over the years.

"I am not paid for the waste I collect, but I have gained recognition in the country. I urge all those engaged in waste collection to continue with the good work," she said.

"My heart weeps when I see people littering our streets and beaches with plastic waste," she said.

"Can you imagine some people who litter the streets say that it is the duty of the city authorities to collect the rubbish on the streets?" Ms Vanderpuiye asked.

Sponsors

For her efforts, she has attracted Royal Fortune, Cowbell and Qualiplast, among the big corporate names, as sponsors for her anniversary celebration.

Ms Vanderpuiye said she began collecting waste when she saw the nuisance it created in the environment.

She said she was, particularly, alarmed by the volumes of plastic bottles and sachets, especially after public gatherings and events.

The Managing Director of Qualiplast, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said his office had been supporting Ms Vanderpuiye since the year 2000, with the collection of plastic waste from the streets and beaches.

“We have been helping Grandma for the last 20 years. This year marked the 20th anniversary of her organisation. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, it became impossible to run the event as scheduled,” he said.

A volunteer, 81-year-old Ms Adobea, who had been helping Ms Vanderpuiye, recounted her bitter experience of collecting
plastic waste from the streets.

“I have been receiving all manner of insults when people see me on the streets collecting the plastic littered on the streets,” she said.