Côte d’Ivoire tackles plastic waste with SOLIBRA’s ECO BOX initiative

SOLIBRA has unveiled its ECO BOX project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combating plastic pollution and fostering a sustainable circular economy in Treichville, Abidjan. The launch coincided with the World Plastic Bag Free Day, celebrated annually on July 3, underscoring the urgency of addressing plastic waste challenges in urban areas.

Treichville was selected as the pilot site due to its high daily plastic waste output, which clogs drainage systems and undermines sanitation infrastructure. The ECO BOX project seeks to turn this environmental burden into economic value through an organized system of collection, segregation, and recycling. By doing so, it addresses both environmental degradation and public health risks linked to unmanaged waste.

The initiative is a collaborative effort involving SOLIBRA, the local non-profit J’Adore Treichville Foundation, and BIRWAST, a specialist in plastic waste recycling. Together, they aim to overhaul waste management practices, reduce environmental harm, and unlock new economic prospects for the community.

To kick off operations, essential tools were distributed to the cleanup teams, including six wheelbarrows, one mobile collection tricycle, 80 refuse bags, twelve rakes, gloves, shovels, and brooms. These resources are critical for efficient waste collection and will support the project’s long-term goals.

The ECO BOX project sets ambitious targets: drastically reducing plastic waste in drainage channels to lower flood risks, creating jobs for local youth as collection agents and drivers, and transforming collected plastics into reusable materials through recycling processes. Additionally, the project places strong emphasis on community engagement, with collectors tasked with educating residents on proper waste sorting and promoting cleanliness awareness across Treichville.

The launch event featured a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official commencement of ECO BOX. Following this, the keys to the first collection tricycle were handed over to a local agent, who will now traverse Treichville’s streets daily to gather plastic waste and keep the community cleaner.