Ho, Feb. 24, GNA - The Swiss Ambassador, Mr Georg Zubler on Friday launched a plastic waste management support programme in Ho with a call on the people to be circumspect in the disposal of plastic waste. "There is no questioning that citizens should do their best to keep their surroundings clean and desist from indiscriminate littering of the streets and gutters with filth", he said.

Mr Zubler said this is because filthy gutters and streets littered with plastic waste regularly overflowed after any downpour creating all sorts of health hazards.

He noted that a healthy environment and intact natural resources were the keys for sustainable development in every country. Mr Zubler deplored the garbage situation in the country and said everyday tons of waste was generated in the country most of which entered streams or lied on the roads contaminating the environment. "The plastic waste in the streets and on the beaches give tourists the negative impression of a filthy country", he stated. Mr Zubler attributed the environmental problem facing the nation to bad attitudes and negative environmental practices by residents and called for sustained education and sensitisation to ensure a clean and healthy environment.

Mr Jurgen Meinel, Technical Director of City Waste Management Company Limited said the opening of a plastic waste collection point in Ho was a first step towards the establishment of a plastic manufacturing industry in the Region.

He announced that the project was going to create jobs in the informal sector adding that, "every kilogram of plastic waste like the pure water and black polythene bags collected will fetch 1,000 cedis". Mr Meinel said through an agreement with Fan Milk Limited, 100 cedis would be paid to collectors for every Tampico bottle at the collection point.

He said other benefits would be the reduction in malaria cases as the town would be cleaner, adding that foreign exchange would be saved through reduced importation of plastic raw materials. Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive expressed gratitude to the Swiss Embassy for the support and pledged the preparedness of the Assembly to make the project successful.