Ghanaian Youth Students Launch "PlastiFund" Project to Connect Recycling Companies with Orphanages for Plastic Regeneration

In Ghana, students Lila Favilli and Arshia Lakhiani discovered a severe plastic pollution problem in the area—large accumulations of plastic bags, water bottles, and sachets made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) clogging rivers and roadsides, threatening animal survival and damaging the environment. Due to the high difficulty of recycling this type of plastic, Ghana can only recycle 2% to 5% of LDPE each year. When exposed to sunlight, it releases greenhouse gases such as methane and ethylene, exacerbating air pollution and climate change.

In cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Tema, discarded plastic bags block drainage systems, increasing the risk of flooding during the rainy season and promoting the spread of diseases like cholera. Lila pointed out, "Simply raising awareness has limited effects. Single-use plastics play an important role in the Ghanaian economy, as plastic water bags are the cheapest way for many households to access clean drinking water."

Two students realized that completely banning plastic is unrealistic and instead explored solutions that balance public health, environmental goals, and commercial incentives. The coastline of Ghana has accumulated a large amount of plastic waste due to ocean currents and urban runoff, creating an urgent ecological problem.

Turning Waste into Opportunity
By studying the recycling economy model, they proposed an innovative solution: connecting large manufacturers, recycling plants, and local orphanages to build a circular economy system, exchanging plastic collection for economic returns. After negotiating with recycling companies to determine a reasonable purchase price, the "PlastiFund" project officially launched.

Currently, the project has covered 10 orphanages and schools in Ghana, attracting over 1,100 children to participate and collecting more than 1,200 pounds of plastic. Recycling trucks regularly transport sorted waste to recycling facilities for cleaning, crushing, melting, and extruding into standard pellets. These pellets can be made into new products such as garbage bags, reducing the use of virgin plastic and decreasing landfill waste.

Lila explained, "Children are the group most easily influenced to change habits. By linking economic incentives with proper disposal, PlastiFund not only creates income for orphanages but also cultivates environmental awareness from a young age." Businesses also benefit from this approach, reducing raw material costs while enhancing their community impact, achieving a win-win situation for all parties involved.

The Power of Tenacity and Collaboration

The project did not progress smoothly. Lila recalled, "Negotiations with large companies and orphanages were often met with rejection, and we were even underestimated due to our youth. However, setbacks taught us how to deal with rejection, overcome difficulties, and break down prejudices." Ultimately, the intergenerational and cross-disciplinary collaboration network proved that local solutions to global problems can be achieved through cooperation.

Expand influence and explore new directions.

Today, PlastiFund is on the right track, and the two founders are exploring new technologies in chemical and mechanical engineering. Lila revealed, "We are collaborating on a paper about catalytic pyrolysis technology, researching new methods to convert LDPE into fuel, providing a new pathway for waste-to-energy in developing countries."

The current focus is on expanding the project to more orphanages and schools, with plans to extend it to adult communities in the future. They convey a clear message: persistence is crucial. "Just one 'yes' can start the project, even if there have been multiple 'no's," Lila emphasized. "If you truly care about something, you must keep trying. Eventually, someone will recognize your efforts. Solving major issues can only be achieved through collaboration."