Fighting plastic pollution - 5th November 2021

Kinshasa is a mega city of 12 million people known for its plastic pollution. But all the plastic rubbish is creating business in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The country's first recycling business, Clean Plast, collects different types of plastic. They are trying to fix the problem.

Clean Plast's director, Alexander Bamanisa tells us more.

Alexander Bamanisa: "Plastic waste takes the longest time to decompose in nature, between 100 and 1,000 years. So it was important for us to contribute and to look for a sustainable solution to this waste problem."

Plastic that is collected from the rubbish is used to make other products. This plastic is collected by locals who are trained by Clean Plast to do specific roles in the recycling process. Some workers only collect plastic. They get paid per kilogram.

Clean Plast is helping the environment and creating jobs. This is 'sustainability'.

Jeanne Bopena works with Clean Plast. She's a local plastic collector.

Jeanne Bopena: "I collect plastic waste from the dustbins and also from people who chuck litter all along the roads. Today I sold 6 kilos of plastic waste for 1,500 Congolese francs (about $0.75)."

Clean Plast also collects plastic from shops and factories. This provides different types of plastic. This benefits businesses because it's cheaper for them to make new products.

Bamanisa thinks this can encourage businesses to recycle plastic.

Alexander Bamanisa: "Depending on the type of plastic waste, the process will be different. We will either compact it, grind it, wash it to make it into a reusable raw material. The raw material that we make is what we call 'next virgin'. It's raw material that is pure and can be reused in any industry that produces plastic goods."