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@observer Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:00:11
Top entities partner on utilization of plastic waste
Plastic waste will be put to good use as an alternative fuel in cement production thanks to a new partnership between Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU) and Hima Cement Limited.
In terms of the three-year partnership, which has been formalized in a memorandum of understanding, CCBU will provide Hima Cement access to plastic waste from its operations for handling and disposal through Hima’s waste management business, Geocycle.
Geocycle offers safe and sustainable waste management solutions through applying the internationally recognised technology of co-processing. The partnership is designed to end the lifestyle of PET waste collected from the environment.
CCBU will provide Hima Cement with waste from its recycling process to be used in their heating processes in the cement kiln, leaving no residue. The two companies will also collaborate in plastic waste collection, plastic waste segregation, innovations in plastics waste management and promoting awareness about plastics waste management.
While signing the MoU at Coca-Cola’s Plastic Recycling Industry in Nakawa, Kirunda Magoola, CCBU Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability director, said tackling the global plastic waste crisis requires cross-sector collaboration and alignment on common principles and targets and that is why they are working with a range of stakeholders at a regional and local level to ensure that plastic waste is managed properly.
As a beverage company whose packaging relies mainly on plastic, Magoola stressed that they have always wanted to address their sustainability and material impact on the environment through plastic waste collection and recycling and currently they recycle nine out of 10 bottles they produce.
“We are partnering with Hima to use some of our plastic waste within its manufacturing process, giving us more ability to address the plastic waste challenge within our environment and that which is being manufactured every day. This MoU gives us the ability to share any plastic waste that we are not able to recycle with Hima for them to use in their manufacturing process to terminate the life cycle of plastics without giving off any emissions while addressing their energy requirements,” he said.
Jean-Michel Pons, the Hima Cement country CEO, said as part of the company’s decarbonization and circular economy approach, they utilize materials at the end of their life cycle as alternative fuels such as industrial wastes like plastics and agricultural wastes like biomass, thus reducing the carbon intensity of cement while offering a unique solution to waste challenges.
In its Kasese factory, Hima Cement gets 60 percent of the energy it uses during manufacturing from waste material by using waste management technology known as co-processing.
“Co-processing is a waste management technology where waste is used in the cement kiln which has very high temperatures of between 900 to 1,400 degrees Celsius. The waste is burnt down completely without giving off any emissions because it is totally enclosed. It is, therefore, the safest and most sustainable and environmentally friendly way to end the life cycle of waste,” Pons said.
For the start of the partnership, the cement manufacturer will use about 20 tonnes per month of waste from Coca-Cola with hopes of utilizing up to 200 tonnes per month in the near future.
According to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), Uganda generates 600 tonnes of plastic daily with only about 40 per cent of this collected and recycled while the rest is left in the environment.
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@observer Wed, 29 Nov 2023 04:13:32
Luweero registers 11 teenage pregnancies each day - Report
In a concerning development, at least 1,432 teenagers in Luweero district have reported to health centers for antenatal care after conceiving in the past four months, according to a district report.
This alarming statistic includes 13 girls below 15 years and 1,419 aged between 15 to 19 years, indicating an average of at least 11 girls seeking antenatal services daily after becoming pregnant.
The report, covering the period from July to October 2023, highlights areas with the highest teenage pregnancy rates. Luweero town council leads with 301 cases, followed by Bombo town council with 156, and Kikyusa sub-county recording 147 cases. Other affected areas include Kalagala sub-county with 143 cases, Zirobwe sub-county with 130, and Katikamu sub-county with 111.
Florence Namuyanja, Luwero district health assistant in Charge of Maternal Health, explained that many of these pregnancies result from sexual relations with close relatives, teachers and friends. The girls are receiving counseling to prepare for childbirth and to avoid stigmatization by adult mothers.
Namuyanja also noted that the actual number of teenage pregnancies might be higher, as some girls opt for traditional birth attendants, fearing legal repercussions for their partners. In Luweero hospital, a teenage mother shared that peer influence led to her pregnancy, while another cited the lack of basic facilities at home as a contributing factor.
Joyce Namigadde, Luweero district probation officer, observed that most pregnant teens drop out of school and face health complications during delivery. She pointed out the underreporting of defilement cases due to compromises or intimidation by relatives.
Namigadde warned of a potential rise in teenage pregnancies during holidays and urged parents to educate their children about the risks of early sexual activity and to monitor their exposure to television and social media.
One parent from Kikyusa sub- county expressed frustration over the legal system, recounting how her 13-year-old daughter’s defiler, a teacher, was released on bail after just four months in remand. She criticized the bail system for setting a dangerous precedent that emboldens potential abusers.
Brenda Nabukenya, Luweero district Woman member of parliament, emphasized the need for local government regulation of entertainment venues to prevent underage access. She also advocated for parliamentary discussions on policies allowing school dropouts to access contraceptives, aiming to reduce the rising number of teenage pregnancies.
The Luweero health report further revealed that in the 2022/23 financial year, at least 42 girls below 15 and 4,480 below 19 years became pregnant, underlining the severity of the issue in the district.
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