OmniBSIC Bank, partners to monetise school plastic waste
OmniBSIC Bank has partnered with the Institute of Industrial Research of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) and the Ocean Tribe Foundation to launch a school-based plastic recovery project aimed at reducing plastic waste, promoting recycling and encouraging environmental responsibility among students.
The initiative, themed Recovering Plastics for Industry and Sustainable Environment, is being implemented in five senior high schools as part of broader efforts to advance environmental stewardship, innovation and circular economy thought among young people.
The participating schools are St John’s Grammar School, O’Reilly Senior High School, Accra High School, Armed Forces Senior High Technical School and Odorgonno Senior High School.
Launch
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Divisional Head of OmniBSIC Bank, George Tetteh Ocansey, said the project reflected the bank’s commitment to promoting innovation while strengthening environmental stewardship among students.
He added that the initiative also aligned with Ghana’s Sustainable Banking Principles and supported the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly quality education and partnerships for development.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to building environmentally responsible future leaders while supporting practical innovation that aligns with Ghana’s sustainability and circular economy goals,” he said.
He stated that plastic waste management remained one of the country’s major environmental challenges, stressing that addressing it required collaboration, education, innovation and active youth participation.
Beyond highlighting the challenge, Mr Ocansey explained that the initiative was designed to equip students with practical solutions to tackle plastic pollution while contributing to a cleaner environment and advancing the country’s circular economy agenda.
It will also help students develop the skills, knowledge and mindset needed to design sustainable responses to environmental problems.
He further encouraged participating students to take full advantage of the Plastic Innovation Challenge, which will test creativity, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills.
“The project was designed to help students turn ideas into practical solutions that could make a difference in their communities and contribute to a more sustainable future,” he said.
The Project Lead for the Schools Plastics Recovery Project and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the initiative sought to transform plastic waste into a valuable resource rather than an environmental burden.
He stated that globally, about eight million tonnes of plastic waste entered the oceans each year, while in the participating schools, plastics accounted for about 60 per cent of total waste generated.
According to data presented under the project, the five schools collectively generate more than 44,000 pieces of plastic waste daily, most of which are sachet water plastics and plastic bottles.
To address this, Dr Antwi explained that the project targeted a 70 per cent reduction in plastic waste on participating campuses within the year through systematic recovery, reuse and recycling interventions.
How it works
As part of the implementation strategy, awareness campaigns will be rolled out across the schools, after which plastic recovery cages will be installed to support structured collection efforts.
Students will be encouraged to collect and store plastics in the cages for sale to buy-back companies over a three-month cycle.
“Schools would be assessed on the quantity of plastics recovered, while students would also be challenged to develop innovative products from recycled plastics,” he said.
Industrial products
In a related development, the Deputy Director of CSIR-IIR, Dr Richard Bayitse, said research conducted by the institute had demonstrated that recovered plastics could be converted into floor tiles, roofing materials and other industrial products.
He added that the project would establish dedicated collection systems within the schools and link recovered plastics to industries through recycling and processing companies.
Dr Bayitse further disclosed that OmniBSIC Bank’s sponsorship covered collection bins, training materials, logistics and incentives required for the implementation of the project.
The initiative will culminate in a Plastic Innovation Challenge in October 2026, where participating schools will present products developed from recovered plastics.
Dr Bayitse said the awards would be presented in November 2026 to outstanding students and schools that recovered the highest quantities of plastics and the overall best-performing institution.
“The project demonstrated that students, researchers and financial institutions could work together to turn plastic waste into useful products while protecting the environment,” he said.
