Mount Barclay – Green Cities Incorporated, a solid waste company has opened Liberia’s First Electronic Waste Refurbishing and Recycling Center to address the issues of waste in Liberia.
By: J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-[email protected]
The modern facility that is situated in the Kpoto Community, Mount Barclay was dedicated on Tuesday in the presence of officials from governments including development partners.
James Mulbah is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Green Cities Incorporate. He told journalists at the event that his organization through their production has already commenced supplying Nimba Rubber and the Morris’s Farm Rubber company with Firestone Latex tapping cups.
“We started with organic waste and integrated it into plastic. Currently, we are handling three major wastes namely: plastic, electronic, and organic” Mulbah said.
He said under chemical recycling of plastic, his organization produces oil by converting the plastic and also produces fuel among others things.
According to Mulbah, his organization has planned to decentralize its activities in Margibi, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bong Counties respectively. He added that his team will be heading to Buchanan City by the end of the week to establish another facility.
Said initiative he says will create additional jobs for the people of Liberia while addressing Liberia’s waste management problem.
Mulbah further commended his team, and the support of development partners and friends in the sector, while encouraging them to do more for the sector.
“We are recycling mechanical items into liquid and produce diesel and others and intend to continue for Liberia,” Mulbah said.
As for the electronic aspect, the CEO of Green Cities Incorporated disclosed that they handle batteries and regenerate them starting from the audit point before building the cells.
“We have a special system to boost the cells and prepare the cell to regenerate your battery. We also have a building where we handle scrap metals, build and arranged them,” he said.
The Chief Technical Advisor of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ben Karmorh, said the waste sector provides a challenge but also provides a unique opportunity to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment.
“For us at the EPA, the commissioning of Liberia’s First Electric Waste Refurbishing and recycling center is a commitment on the part of the Green Cities Incorporate and complement the mandate of the EPA,” Karmorh said.
Karmorh also congratulates the CEO of Green Cities Incorporated and his team for the level of work they continue to do, especially in dealing with the environmental and climate change issues in Liberia.
“For Us at EPA, we believe that your work will complement Liberia’s ambitious nationally determined contribution to the fight against climate change. As you may know, climate change poses a serious threat to human development,” Karmorh said.
According to him, the EPA was honored to be part of such a great opening program, which will help to address the issue of waste, and put money in the pockets of staff at Green Cities Incorporate.
Karmorh urged the donors to continue to support Green Cities Incorporate as their support is now seen through tangibles, including facilities and equipment being dedicated.
Speaking on behalf of the Swedish Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Head of Administration Tania Berger lauded Green Cities Incorporate for being one of the winners in Liberia under the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) Sub-Sahara Africa Programme.
“You are indeed a winner and take comfort in using this as a stepping stone to bigger initiatives.
Swedish development cooperation with Liberia is strategically aligned with the National agenda of Liberia–the Pro-poor Agenda for prosperity and Development,” she said.
She said the Swedish government is committed to a fossil-free future including limiting climate change and strengthening peoples’ and societies’ resilience against climate change.
“Plastic and electronic wastes are issues of concern that greatly affect the environment; that is plastics pollution. While it is true that plastics serve us in many useful ways, it is also very true that plastics pollution, specifically, single-use plastics, negatively affects our environment, most of the plastics, end up in the ocean, our beaches, and other land areas,” Berger said.
According to her, they eventually end up in the ocean, wetlands, and eventually in our food chain, creating an environmental and health catastrophe.
“Sweden is glad to support the establishment of Liberia’s first modern Waste Management and Recycling Plant. Sweden is committed to contributing to accelerating a transformation that leads to sustainable and green economies, more jobs, and a healthy planet for all, where no one is left behind,” she added.