Representatives from OmniBSIC Bank, CSIR-IIR and Ocean Tribe Foundation, together with some students
OmniBSIC Bank has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR) and Ocean Tribe Foundation to launch a school-based plastic recovery initiative, pushing Ghana’s circular economy agenda through education and industrial innovation.
Themed, ‘Recovering Plastics for Industry and Sustainable Environment’, the project was unveiled at the Bank’s Head Office in Accra.
Five Senior High Schools (SHS) in Greater Accra are in the pilot: St. John’s Grammar, Odorgonno SHS, Accra High, O’Reilly SHS, and Armed Forces SHS. Fully sponsored by OmniBSIC Bank, the programme will turn plastic waste from campuses into industrial raw material for products like floor tiles, roofing tiles, and composites.
CSIR-IIR will lead technical implementation, using its decades of research on plastic recovery. Ocean Tribe Foundation will drive environmental education, drawing on its ocean conservation and anti-plastic advocacy work.Tackling a Daily Crisis
The five schools generate an estimated 44,000 pieces of plastic waste daily, equal to the full capacity of Accra Sports Stadium.
From Waste to Resource
Implementation starts this month with plastic recovery cages in all five schools, plus training for students and teachers on segregation, cleaning, storage, and recovery. Over three months, recovered plastics will be bought by buy-back firms and processed into semi-finished materials for local manufacturers.
OmniBSIC is funding infrastructure, educational materials, logistics, and student incentives. After the collection phase, schools will be assessed and recognized. A Plastic Innovation Challenge in October 2026 will showcase student products made from recovered plastics, with awards in November 2026. Financial literacy sessions will also run through the Bank’s youth banking initiatives.
Divisional Head at OmniBSIC Bank, George Tetteh Ocansey, said the project aligns with Ghana’s Sustainable Banking Principle 6 and SDGs 4 and 17. “Together, through this shared commitment, we can build cleaner communities, empower young minds, and create a lasting impact.”
Dr. Richard Bayitse, Deputy Director of CSIR-IIR, called plastic “a misplaced industrial resource,” noting that “our laboratories cannot solve the collection problem alone.”
Saviour Agyei of Ocean Tribe Foundation stressed education, “When a child understands the value of a clean ocean, they become its lifelong defender.”
The partners also launched “Plastics, the Waste and the Management for Teens,” a booklet on recycling and environmental responsibility, with copies given to all five schools.
A Business Desk Report